Rugby League. Rug...by... League.
THE sport, of NSW and Queensland. Since 1908 in Australia. Played sparingly elsewhere.
What a game.
I continually find myself lost in the Australian summer.
Whether it’s the holidays, Christmas period or school/Uni break I have. I
always feel lost. It’s like I drift away from the real reality of a week and chronological
days. I’m not in a rhythm or routine. I tend to get drunk a lot and lose my sense
of purpose or direction. This happens because my ‘normal’ life is from round 1
to grand final day. The lip-wetters that are the all-stars and trials start to
quench my thirst, and the end-of-season internationals simply take the drink
from my hands for another year. The articles written through the off-season and
news of a player switch remind me there is still a drink in the fridge for next
year, but life is just not the same. So in summer, what is it I miss about
rugby league?
Is it because I was simply born into the culture of loving
league, or because I watched with my dad, and made him kick sky-high bombs to
me in the front yard? Why do I miss it so much?
The say rugby league is a soap opera, well then my addiction
to this soapy is like a stay at home middle aged woman’s is to days of our lives.
1.
Rabbits
Warren – His voice is a comforting reminder that all is well in this life.
I would compare him to how a religious person may hold their priest in the same
respect. Honestly, is there a better sports caller in Australia? He is a living
legend and I don’t know how I will handle watching the first season after he
says goodbye.
2.
The
ex-greats– Players are constantly reminded in today’s game to ‘prepare for
life after football’. Because all too often in the past, players become depressed
and lost without the game. Some players though will just never be able to give
it away. Take Allan Langer, he owns from what I hear a very well run restaurant
on the sunshine coast. He could be sipping XXXX’s overlooking the pacific for
the rest of his days, but not for Alfie; he craves the team environment and is
even still on the paddock running the drinks. Andrew Johns, Tommy Raudonikis, Ronnie
Palmer. These guys will die hanging around the game. They are well respected
figures in the game that reporters always love to hit up for a quote when something’s
‘going down’, and the ex-greats rightfully love to have a dig, say or spray.
3.
The
players and plays – The athletically-gifted, the naturally-talented, the
characters, the never-give-er-up-ers. The passes, the runs, the plays, the kicks,
the tries and my favourite, the dummy. They produce some magical stuff.
4.
The funny
things – A lot of things happen in a game of rugby league, and thanks to
segments like ‘stuff you may have missed’ and increased coverage, we get to see
them. Post try celebrations, funny signs, the crazy fans, the spilt beers, the ‘Hindy’,
the weird and wacky, it all happens.
5.
The
banter – Does anything beat turning up to work on a Monday knowing your
team has beaten your mates? The cocky confidence your mate had on the Friday that
his team had the game in the bag maybe? Monday (or Tuesday thanks to MNF) also
brings a new week, a re-newel of belief, and a new team next week to take on.
Debates about who better players are, or what would be the best team if you
could pick any players are now settled over super coach games. In the last
decade the introduction of this American pastime has brought new life to
lunch-time gas-bags.
6.
The
common bond – The ability to become engulfed in a mate-making talk with the
random bloke you meet at the train station, pub or shops.
7.
The Pies
& Beers and/or Cokes – When you’ve got these bad boys in your hands,
you know you’re at a rugby league game. Local games, or at the stadiums,
nothing beats a mouse-coffin or two.
8.
Atmosphere
– You can sometimes smell it, and it often stinks. No that’s just the
overflowing portaloos’ on Kogarah hill. The tension, buzz and noises at a game
far out way sitting on the couch. There’s always that one bloke about 3 rows
back who yells abuse at the players and ref’s all game. Absolutely no consideration
for the hordes of youngsters sitting around him. Great stuff.
9.
Geographical
separation of teams - Honestly, how boring would it be watching all the
teams play at 1 or 2 stadiums? Tribal allegiances are built through the geographical
separation of teams. We would never see the beautiful background of Wollongong beach,
the legendary Leichardt oval hill, the roar of the panther at Penrith. The
thrill of a trekking-adventure to the oppositions stadium is all part of the
game day experience that makes the NRL so good.
10.
State of
origin - It’s a whole different game, culture and experience. But importantly,
it breaks up the season and refreshes your interest. It’s basically halfway through
the season and if your team is running crap before it, you tend to focus more
on origin. Once it’s over you re-assess and begin to look at ‘how many we need
to win to make the finals’ and march on in the thrill of the chase.
11.
Friday
Night Football – If your week has been a boiler or a blast, knowing there’s
a couple of games on the box to go with your beers and pizza will always put a
smile on your dial.
12.
Press
conferences – Last year I started watching these pretty closely, I love how
coaches slyly drop remarks about certain players knowing full well the player
will get a blast in the papers. Des, Wayne, Bellyache, Elliot, Ricky, Carty...
You can be guaranteed one of them will slip out something outrageous in
question-time.
13.
Faith
& Hope – The belief, no matter how confident or faint it may be, that
your team can win the comp. They say ‘Rugby League is a funny game’, and it’s
because miracles can, and do, happen. Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XI1RaRcSjY