Monday's NRL Mingle

The neat display outside Hunter Stadium marking 100 years since the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli.

Kurt, It’s time to go.

In the words of Gretel Killeen, It’s time to go. These words could not apply to Kurt Gidley more after his complete shocker in the Knights’ loss to the cowboys on Saturday. What’s more the Knights have Australian representative Sione Mata'utia playing reserve grade or sitting on the bench. Sione’s impact was instantaneous when we came on for the Knights in the second half. His runaway try was a sign of what the kid can do, charging straight at, and through, Johnathan Thurston. Gidley would be perfectly suited for the English Super League and would find his feet in a permanent position, which is something he has struggled to do here in the NRL.

Austin or Victor?

Is it just me or is Blake Austin from the Raiders trying to impersonate their mascot Victor the Viking? The goatee-beard and haircut are strikingly similar. If he is looking for inspiration in the almighty Victor, it’s working because Austin has been on fire in his now established five-eighth role. The Raiders are four and four for the year which is a comfortable record to have at this stage of the season. Their win against South Sydney showed the team Ricky Stuart has put together has some potent players. Stuart has struggled for coaching success at club level and no one gets hammered more than him if things go south, but if there is one club he might actually put it together at, it’s the Raiders. Clubs should look out around the end of the season if the Raiders are stalking the top eight.

ANZAC Day brilliant

Those in the media suggesting sport and ANZAC Day are bordering on crossing the line of promotion and respect do have a point and will keep the governing bodies in check, but the games and ceremonies held on the weekend in the NRL couldn’t be more respectful. All games featured the New Zealand and Australian anthems, as well as the commemorative ceremonies and the last post. For those who are unable to attend Dawn or ANZAC services, the games provide another opportunity to pay respect. They also provide an alternative to heading to a pub or club for those who don’t drink to participate in ANZAC day activities.

Rebuilt Storm

The Melbourne Storm might have lost in a close one on the weekend, but what’s clear is they will remain a real player in this year’s fight for the title. They currently sit in 3^rd place with five wins and three losses. With an injury-disrupted off-season to their ageing stars, many commentators predicted the Storm would struggle this season. Craig Bellamy recently stated that something “wasn’t right” with the team last year that he failed to see and correct at the time. He’s sure found the solution this year, and the addition of Blake Green to complement Cooper Cronk in the halves has been a sublime compliment by Bellamy.

Dugan deserving of spot

Josh Dugan has managed to turn his life around as has been well promoted by the media, but was he really that bad to begin with? All Dugan has done is keep out of trouble and put his best foot forward, which is all he needed to do. The raw kid that emerged for the Raiders way back in 2011 had so much natural talent he was drawing comparison to the great Brett Mullins, and Billy Slater at the time. It’s a shame it didn’t work out for the Raiders as Dugan is potentially a premiership-winning fullback such are his efforts and influence on the park. With hard-head Mary McGregor now pushing Dugan to reach his best, we should finally see him flourish. His Kangaroos birth is a just result of his talent and hard work coming together.



Sonny Bill Williams – The greatest athlete who never became a league legend




Sonny's career won't be remembered for the right reasons

When it comes to hype around Rugby League players over the past 106 years, it’s hard to argue that Sonny Bill Williams’ career hasn’t created the most. The modern day athlete and code-crossing superstar, has gained more popularity in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia than any other athlete. His headline moments have produced a spectrum of emotions for his millions of fans. But when Williams is gone and in years to come, how will we remember him? Or how will rugby league fans remember him?

He blew onto to scene as the gifted Bulldogs junior from New Zealand who astounded us with his big hits and ferocious style. We relished his shoulder charges, ability, good looks, charm and strength. It caught the attention of all sports fans across Australia.

He would go on and win a premiership off the bench for Canterbury, and was lauded by commentators as the biggest thing to happen to the game in many years and a sure superstar for the next decade. Not to be.

We all know how he left the dogs, went to French Rugby and eventually flew back to New Zealand for a few years in Super, and International Rugby. He succeed in Union as most league players have before him, and won along with many trophies, a new-legion of fans in En-Zed.

Nowadays, In his rare media appearances, Sonny Bill seems to display a ‘humility’ and ‘graciousness’ for his position in life and standing in the southern hemisphere sporting landscape. But he seems to make some rather bizarre decisions that give his profile and standing with the fans no lift.

For instance, why did he leave it until the eleventh hour to commit to the New Zealand World Cup campaign last year? He reasoned that he hadn’t had a proper holiday in years and was going to skip the world cup for a break, only to realise at the last minute he didn’t what to look back on his career and have any regrets. It was his ‘brothers’ of kiwi compatriots that convinced him to jump on-board. His decisions tragically led to Tohu Harris being sent-packing before he had a chance to even pack his bags for the trip.

Which brings us to the ANZAC test match coming up this Friday, and Sonny’s skip once again. The turmoil after the world cup of the Kiwi team apparently mixing sleeping medication with energy drinks created a rift between Williams and the NZRL after he, and roommate Kieran Foran, were largely named in media as two who had ‘dabbled’ in such actions. An official report cleared them, but the damage had already been done to the sensitive public relations aroma of Williams.

For all that SBW has done in the game of Rugby League, there seems to be more negative memories than those of achievement and good-will. He always appears bigger than the game itself.

Wouldn’t one last run in the historic ANZAC clash wearing the black and white jumper with its proud kiwi fern above his heart be a better way to be remembered than scooting off for an attempted honey-moon overseas? Even better, wouldn’t a man of the match, team-leading and country-inspiring win over the dominating Australia give the fans a memory for years to come?

I would argue that his attempt to keep a low profile and stay out of the media have done the opposite and ensured his negative publicity have the light shun brighter upon. His admittedly made mistakes as we all do, and the league fraternity is one forgiving bunch, but Sonny, please, we fans don’t cop blokes who think they are god’s greatest gift. Even if the drama of the energy drinks gave your name a run through the mud, if you were true to your ‘brothers’, and yourself, you would be out there this Friday night representing your country and tearing the Australian forward pack a new one.

You’ve missed the best opportunity you’ve had since your return to Rugby League to let the memories of your past disappear from our minds. You played an extraordinary role in the Roosters premiership last year which many will fail to see the true scale of because of exactly that; you were playing for the Roosters. But nothing is greater and more applauded in world sport than achieving success whilst representing your country. Sure it’s not the Olympics running out onto Allianz Stadium but there would be no greater imprint on league fans. You could have left us talking in our homes, pubs or at the ground about the great kiwi victory of 2014.

Not to be.