PARRA_FAN
Coach
- Messages
- 17,169
Like everyone here I love this great game, Rugby League.
Thursday night getting home from work there was nothing on TV.
Then last night there was that real weird feeling, finishing up work, ordering a pizza, opening up a cold one, switching to Fox League with no NRL game, late March on a Friday night.
Even more weird is that I'm actually home on a Friday night, occasionally I would knock off just before the 6pm game, have a few beers at the pub and then maybe kick on afterwards to another pub to catch the 7.30pm game.
No doubt this is a real difficult time, not just Rugby League but for all sports and also families with job cuts and financial issues, people going crazy wondering what's happening in the world.
The one thing that I'm certain on, is that this game will survive.
Yes its sad there is no footy for a while, with players, coaches, officials, taking pay cuts, making sacrifices and clubs facing uncertain futures.
But the game of Rugby League has always dealt with plenty of blows and still got up and kicked on.
Since 1908, we survived 3 wars, WW1, WW2, Super League, we got through salary cap dramas, peptides scandals, plenty of off field dramas.
This is certainly one of the biggest challengers we've ever had to face.
But one of the things that keeps this game going, is us, the fans. We love Rugby League.
Every week from March till September, we read our team lists, sledge each other, make of fun of Cameron Smith, bag the referees, get annoyed by Gus Gould, watch a great game of footy with family, friends, work collegues, fans you don't even know but still have a nice chat them.
I honestly don't know what Id do without Rugby League. I followed this game since I was a kid, I was brought up in a family of Eels, some Bulldogs, Magpies and Panthers but I started noticing the game in the late 80s and early 90s, a great period for the game.
I don't think anyone alive today could ever imagine a time where games have been suspended for a period because of this horrible situation. No-one in Australia would ever thought we'd get to this situation but we've got to stick together, stay at home, fight this disease.
When the dust finally settles, hopefully things are back to normal and the NRL comp starts, and when things get back to normal, which might take a while, I look forward to having that first schooner catching up with mates, collegues, watching the footy on the big screen with a nice plate of chicken wings or sharing a pizza on a Friday night.
Then going to the game the next day, seeing all the blue and gold flags, and opposition flags, cheering my team, booing the opposition, but clapping them at the same time appreciating all the clubs, because its back.
Then the next day we chat to our relatives, work collegues, our neighbours, about the game we just saw during the weekend.
It may be a lot different when we come back, obviously less games, but less teams. (well who knows anyway).
If we have to make sacrifices, taking pay cuts, playing at ANZ (if its not demolished), or playing at Bankwest, Gosford, Brisbane, wherever, as long as it'll keep the game financial.
For now lets look watch some classic matches on Fox League, Youtube or even play Rugby League games on XBOX, PlayStation, PC, imagining what our comp would look like if this virus didn't happen.
Looks like a tough time now but I have no doubt something in the next few years or longer would bring this game back, just like the following moments that made this game special:
1963 Provan Summons embrace
1980 State Of Origin begins
1981 Ding Dong the witch is dead
1989 Raiders Grand Final win
1990 Tina Turner Simply the Best
1997 ARL Grand Final, Newcastle's win
2003 Sattler's tackle
2005 Benjis flick
2008 Beaver Menzies final Manly try
2014 South Sydney triumph
2015 Cowboys win
2016 Sharks break drought
People could argue with that list, but that's ok.
What are some of the best moments in your opinion that make this game special?
Thursday night getting home from work there was nothing on TV.
Then last night there was that real weird feeling, finishing up work, ordering a pizza, opening up a cold one, switching to Fox League with no NRL game, late March on a Friday night.
Even more weird is that I'm actually home on a Friday night, occasionally I would knock off just before the 6pm game, have a few beers at the pub and then maybe kick on afterwards to another pub to catch the 7.30pm game.
No doubt this is a real difficult time, not just Rugby League but for all sports and also families with job cuts and financial issues, people going crazy wondering what's happening in the world.
The one thing that I'm certain on, is that this game will survive.
Yes its sad there is no footy for a while, with players, coaches, officials, taking pay cuts, making sacrifices and clubs facing uncertain futures.
But the game of Rugby League has always dealt with plenty of blows and still got up and kicked on.
Since 1908, we survived 3 wars, WW1, WW2, Super League, we got through salary cap dramas, peptides scandals, plenty of off field dramas.
This is certainly one of the biggest challengers we've ever had to face.
But one of the things that keeps this game going, is us, the fans. We love Rugby League.
Every week from March till September, we read our team lists, sledge each other, make of fun of Cameron Smith, bag the referees, get annoyed by Gus Gould, watch a great game of footy with family, friends, work collegues, fans you don't even know but still have a nice chat them.
I honestly don't know what Id do without Rugby League. I followed this game since I was a kid, I was brought up in a family of Eels, some Bulldogs, Magpies and Panthers but I started noticing the game in the late 80s and early 90s, a great period for the game.
I don't think anyone alive today could ever imagine a time where games have been suspended for a period because of this horrible situation. No-one in Australia would ever thought we'd get to this situation but we've got to stick together, stay at home, fight this disease.
When the dust finally settles, hopefully things are back to normal and the NRL comp starts, and when things get back to normal, which might take a while, I look forward to having that first schooner catching up with mates, collegues, watching the footy on the big screen with a nice plate of chicken wings or sharing a pizza on a Friday night.
Then going to the game the next day, seeing all the blue and gold flags, and opposition flags, cheering my team, booing the opposition, but clapping them at the same time appreciating all the clubs, because its back.
Then the next day we chat to our relatives, work collegues, our neighbours, about the game we just saw during the weekend.
It may be a lot different when we come back, obviously less games, but less teams. (well who knows anyway).
If we have to make sacrifices, taking pay cuts, playing at ANZ (if its not demolished), or playing at Bankwest, Gosford, Brisbane, wherever, as long as it'll keep the game financial.
For now lets look watch some classic matches on Fox League, Youtube or even play Rugby League games on XBOX, PlayStation, PC, imagining what our comp would look like if this virus didn't happen.
Looks like a tough time now but I have no doubt something in the next few years or longer would bring this game back, just like the following moments that made this game special:
1963 Provan Summons embrace
1980 State Of Origin begins
1981 Ding Dong the witch is dead
1989 Raiders Grand Final win
1990 Tina Turner Simply the Best
1997 ARL Grand Final, Newcastle's win
2003 Sattler's tackle
2005 Benjis flick
2008 Beaver Menzies final Manly try
2014 South Sydney triumph
2015 Cowboys win
2016 Sharks break drought
People could argue with that list, but that's ok.
What are some of the best moments in your opinion that make this game special?