Game will do what it always does; thrive.



The Bunnies and Bulldogs come together on Friday night in what should be a heavy-hitting clash.

Rugby League has been through some tumultuous times; the Super League war, the scandals, convictions, dramas, battering’s, and anything else that has put the code and game through a meat grinder. But there is one thing that makes the game of Rugby League special, its continued resilience to overcome these spectacles regardless of their enormity. Often when the game is in turmoil off the field and copping it from the media like it is playing a game of dodgeball, the displays and actions on the grounds around the country pull it out of the negative headlights. And this weekend the NRL is about to light-up heading into its most exciting time of the year, the finals. In what may be considered a time of the year where some teams have nothing to play for, round 24 has some tantalising match ups.

Kicking off the round to save Rugby League’s ass, is the St. George Illawarra Dragons up against the Penrith Panthers at the coastal home of the Dragons, Win Stadium. With Thursday night football set play apart in the next much-talked about television rights deal, it will be interesting to see the turn up to tonight’s game in Wollongong. With a stadium relatively close for those living on the South Coast and a finals’ spot on the line, there should predictably be a fair attendance. ‘Mary’ McGregor will be filthy at his halfback-experiment gone wrong in Brisbane last week and will have his team primed to make up for the embarrassing loss. Jamie Soward also returns to ‘the gong’ for the first time to play against his former club and with Benji Marshall returning to side for the Red-V, the halves game will exciting to watch. Marshall is in need of a big game to avoid a potential backlash from Dragons fans after his less than consistent efforts in recent times.

On Friday night South Sydney play host to the resurgent Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in what should be a heavy-hitting classic. The Bunnies have found form at the right time of the year with their belting of hyped premiership-favourites, North Queensland last weekend and with big George and Tommy Burgess charging on all cylinders, look-out. For the Dogs, they will remain without club-favourite Josh Reynolds who is yet to training return from a knee-injury. They have also lost regular hooker Michael Lichaa who is gone for the year. It is a must win game for Bulldogs who could drop out of the top eight altogether if they go-down.

Saturday will see Cronulla take on the Wests Tigers at Shark Park, which was the scene of their falling back to earth on Monday night when belted by the Storm. The Sharks will be out to turn-it-around and get back on the winner’s list, but a determined young Wests Tigers have shown they are willing to make gains this year despite being out of finals contention. Jason Taylor will be looking for further development in his young-side and ‘Teddy’ Tedesco has displayed being out of contention means nothing for his motivation to win. The Sharks are in an interesting position, they look to be out of the running for a top-four position, but coming 5^th or 6^th means relatively little, as they aren’t allowed to play finals games at their home ground. Regardless, this a big match for both sides and the Saturday afternoon timeslot of 3pm has been one to produce crazy-games this season.

The North Queensland Cowboys occupied one of the top-two spots on the ladder for most of the season, but now they find themselves sitting in third and potentially at risk of missing a week-one home final. Everyone knows the Warriors are going, but Auckland is a hard place to visit at the best of times, let alone at Saturday night after your confidence was sent kaput the week before. No easy game for the Thurston-led Townsville team.

The game-of-the-week caps off Super Saturday when the red-hot chooks welcome the might of Bennett’s Broncos. The Roosters are on a nine-game winning streak and they will be out to flex their muscle against the top-of-the-table Broncos. Wayne Bennet has navigated his way to finals more times than anyone outside Jimmy Barnes and Shannon Noll, but the Brisbane players can’t rely on his experience to see them through and they will have to beat the likes of Trent Robinson’s side if they want to go all the way in 2015. What an absolute showdown this will be; Sydney vs. Brisbane. Gus Gould has called for a big crowd and the game utterly deserves it.

Sunday afternoon, the league’s nicest-climate club, up against the league’s worst-climate club. In a case of polar opposites in both climates and directions their seasons have taken, the Gold Coast and Canberra game looks a dud, but it isn’t. The Titans will be looking to avoid their slide down the NRL ladder this year, and if they don’t win on Sunday, they will undoubtedly collect the wooden-spoon. Canberra, who booked their off-season holidays early after last week’s loss to Manly, will want to show they’re a side who were worth of a final’s spot. They were robbed of a win last week and Ricky Stuart would not be happy.

‘Must-win’ is the only two-words that can describe what Manly have to do on Sunday against Parramatta. The Sea Eagles are on a 2009-Parramatta-type run into the finals which has saw them go from wooden-spoon favourites to a chance of making the eight. They got away with highway-robbery last week down the Hume, and they cannot afford to drop a single game if they plan on being there in September. Brad Arthur returns to his previous club, and with the Eels no-chance of making the finals it’s hard to find what they will be playing for. Arthur is a man who values a performance more than a win, and he will want a big one from a team that will have some players playing for a spot next year.

Monday night football is in Melbourne this week with the Storm taking on the Knights who haven’t returned to AAMI Park since Alex McKinnon’s injury. That will in the back of their thoughts though as they look to secure another win for interim-coach and club-legend, Danny Buderus. Buderus has had made an influence on some of the Newcastle players who are literally playing for a contract with an incoming coach next season and they will put up a hearty-effort against the Storm. The Storm will look to build on their big win over Cronulla and Craig Bellamy has done a tremendous job keeping their season alive despite the loss of Billy Slater mid-season. Expect a big-clash in Australia’s trendiest city to cap out the round.

Buy of the year is Ennis, not Austin



A leader amongst a group once lost in the headlights, Michael Ennis.

Blake Austin has produced some stunning individual performances for the Canberra Raiders this season and rightfully, they have earnt him plenty of praise amongst league commentators as ‘buy of the year’. His efforts have contributed to some fantastic Raiders wins and seen him endorsed for representative selection with New South Wales, but while Austin has stood out in the lime-green, from a perspective of who added more value to a team, it’s hard to go past Cronulla custodian Michael Ennis.

Ennis’ contribution has been much bigger than Austin’s exploits on the field. His presence has had an effect on the mind frame of the team. His actions are directly influencing others. Arguably one of the most consistent hooker’s this year, Ennis competes on every play. He doesn’t just do his job or go through the motions; there is a real emotional sting in the way he competes. It means something to him. And you can see that rubbing off on the rest of the Sharks team.

“No longer is Gallen the sole engine-train trying to pull the carriages of Cronulla out of the valley of mediocracy”

His position as a leader within the group has allowed Paul Gallen to finally focus on his own game. No longer is Gallen the sole engine-train trying to pull the carriages of Cronulla out of the valley of mediocracy. In Ennis they have a general, someone at the front and center of almost every play setting the tone for the rest of the team, much like former Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus. Buderus ripped in for Newcastle, giving his all on every play. He was a consistent player and you could count on him turning up every week. Sure, Ennis might give away a penalty or two, but that’s the cost of getting on top of the opposition. He walks the line, flirts with the boundaries in order to get that slight advantage and edge. Whether it be mental slight or gaining a tactical benefit; it’s all part of Ennis’ strategy.  

At the Bulldogs Ennis was captain and held a greater responsibility if they won or lost. That pushing of the boundaries that he indulges in was something more ineffective than it was an advantage. At the Sharks and free of that captaincy weight, he too, like Gallen, can focus on himself. He doesn’t have to worry about pleading with the refs.

For a club on the rebuild, Ennis was and has been perfect. He is disciplined, confident, determined and sticks to the plan. He trusts the process. He knows Rugby League is a simple game and what has to be done to achieve success. He is not someone who looks at the past; he moves on and looks ahead very quickly. Perfect, for a club coming out of the most tumultuous years of its history.

He also takes enormous pride in mentoring younger players, sharing his experience with those coming into first-grade football. He helped Josh Reynolds develop from a talented prospect to a rigorous and committed origin-winning five-eighth. While it may not have been the tactical skills he helped Reynolds with, it was the demands of week-to-week football.

There’s no secret to why the Sharks are on the edge of the ever-valued top four. They’ve played hard, found raw and exciting talents in Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes, players like Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington have been the backbone of the side and benefitted from Ennis’ leadership. Ennis come into the club as a fresh face and free of the past. His attitude would have said let’s put it all behind us and get on with it.

You can look at buy of the year as what you got out of a player against their financial cost, maybe they were a ‘revelation’ for their side; or you can look at it as what a club most needed in order to become a better side. Cronulla needed a Michael Ennis to move them forward, and they surprisingly landed his signature in later 2014. What a significant boost his made to a club that was officially on the ropes just 12 months ago. His mature approach far outweighs the ‘loose-cannon’ that was Todd Carney.

Signed with Cronulla until the end of the 2016 season, Ennis will be a valuable figure and asset for the Sharks to have at their club. With so much talent in their junior stocks, his contribution will be invaluable. A guiding father figure for those youngsters ready to take the next step, for themselves and for the Sharks, Ennis is a must resign for the club beyond his current contract, even if it be as a replacement hooker. Cronulla’s best opportunity in years is upon them as the head into this year’s finals series and Michael Ennis is at the absolute forefront of that charge. Can the curse of the porch-lamp finally be broken?

A-League must learn from NRL mistakes



The 2014 A-League Grand Final had an attendance of 51,153.

The A-league was last night gifted its dream grand finale after Sydney FC powered past Adelaide United in unstoppable fashion. Sydney will join Melbourne Victory for arguably the A-league’s biggest grand final in its ten year history. The league’s two most prevalent teams in that time, who share the game’s strongest rivalry, are set for a showdown like never before. Both teams have been riding a wave of momentum and are the deserving finalists after finishing the regular season in the top-two spots. The only thing stopping the day becoming one of the most memorable in Australian sport’s history is the capacity of the host stadium, AAMI Park, of 30,500.

To put it simply, the game must be moved.

Shifting the game to the MCG would not only allow all the Victory and FC fans to watch their teams, but open the event up for the everyday sports fan and leisure seeker’s of Melbourne. The move could potentially result in upwards of 100,000 people in attendance. A spectacle of that size would cement the A-League alongside the biggest sporting codes in the country. Over the last 10 years the A-League has been building to this moment. The international marquee signings, the All Star games against European clubs, the moments’ only football can provide, the battles between the clubs and the impact of the Western Sydney Wanderers have all contributed to the sport now being on the verge of sitting alongside the NRL and AFL in terms of popularity.

Only one man has the power to change the course of Football history in this country forever, and that’s Football Australia CEO David Gallop. Since Gallop joined the FFA in 2012, he has been lauded by many in the game for finally pushing the sport in Australia to match that of its world status. While the accolades may well deserve a pat on the back, surely this is the golden opportunity for the CEO to put a stamp on his sport like no other could.

The real question to be asked is whether Gallop has learnt from his mistakes? You see, back in 2009 when Gallop was the CEO of the NRL, he encountered a similar situation involving finals-matches stadium allocations.

The Parramatta Eels had rode a wave of momentum from last second last place on the competition ladder mid-year, to scrape into eighth place and earn a spot in the finals. At the time, the Eels were drawing supporters out of the closest like never before, the Dragons too had just won the minor premiership and fans were flocking to their games. Set to play each other in the first week of the finals, the game was set down to be hosted at the 23,000 capacity Kogarah Oval. The location would effectively lock-out thousands of supporters from both teams, and Rugby League would be robbed of an incredible match-up that would have filled the 45,000 seat Allianz Stadium. Despite an outpouring of complaints from fans and a fierce media campaign, the Gallop-ran NRL decided not to switch to a bigger stadium. That match would be the start of a driving force that eventually led to the changing of the NRL finals stadium policy. Two years later it was changed; three years later Gallop was thrown out of his chair.

The MCG has a capacity of 100,000. Isn't the idea to grow, year on year?

While many will argue that it’s too late to change such a big game, that the idea was already looked at and deemed unfeasible, but what do good leaders do? They make things happen. They get things done. The AFL will argue they have a game scheduled at the MCG, but who owns the MCG? Surely the Victorian Government can be lobbied to force a change. Imagine the economic benefit from a 100,000 plus crowd, many from interstate. If the AFL needs compensating to switch their game, then pay it.

The FFA last week unveiled a 20 year master plan for the sport, a strategic vision for the future. Well you won’t get to the future without actions in the present. Having a sold-out MCG for a match that has been building for the last ten years, would be like pouring petrol onto the already well alight fire that is the sport of Football. With over 80,000 expected to fill ANZ stadium next month to watch A-League teams play EPL giants Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea F.C, a 30,500 crowd for the country’s domestic competition grand final could be considered laughable and embarrassing.

Make the move, Gallop.

Souths: What Now?

I’m looking at South Sydney’s line up for this Friday’s finals’ match against the Melbourne Storm and I’m seeing a team that may not win.

Has Maguire tinkered too much?

Ever since Michael Maguire walked in the door I’ve been praising his efforts. He took them to the preliminary final last year where they narrowly missed out on a grand final birth. Sitting in the stands watching them get rolled through middle, like a road train pummelling wildlife on a remote highway, when they lost to the Bulldogs, I saw a team who, with another season under Maguire, another off-season for younger players and some key signings, could win the competition in 2013. I believed this and wrote about it here http://maximus182.blogspot.com.au/

Twenty – thirteen began and Souths' bolted out of the gates. Bryson Goodwin was surprisingly solid, Adam Reynolds was benefiting from experience and developed a superior and accurate kicking game, George Burgess was playing like the monster he is, Ben Te'o was showing how the extra hard time Coach Madge gave him in the off season was playing off, GI become a pure leader, Monster 2.0 Thomas emerged. Souths’ were the complete package.

One thing that stood out was the hot potato game for a spot in the side. Captain Michael Croker couldn’t make the run on side, and later the entire team. True to Maguire’s hard line stance, he was prepared to cut players who didn’t perform even if the team won comfortably. Fair call, he was creating and holding down his culture of expectation and performance. Over the course of the year the side has changed considerably. Quality players of 2012 are now sitting on sidelines; some through injury, some through form.

I am concerned that Maguire has taken the culling of players a little too far and therefore messed with the structure of a side that gelled and flowed well. He is toying with a lot of youth and could be missing some experienced heads. My big worry since this transformation of the squad over the past 26 rounds has been there backline. It’s obvious they have a pack to unsettle and bulldoze through any other if they play well but every round I’ve waited for Goodwin or one of the Dylan’s to slip up. They individually haven’t had a bad or terrible game, but there game has been covered up by the brilliance of their forwards, halves and fullback. In big games, and they get no bigger than finals, you need try-scorers. Beau Champion, Andrew Everingham & Matt King currently lay idle in the stalls. Everingham blue on to the scene after sending Maguire a highlights package synced to ACDC’s Thunderstruck. He backed it up with 15 tries in 2012. A slick finisher who held his own under the high ball, and in defence. Champion was a prolific try-scorer with Souths’ in previous years but has played only 8 games this year. Languishing in NSW cup with the North Sydney Bears, Champion needs to be back in the side scooting down that right side where he belongs. He & Merritt are the two best try-scorers at ANZ stadium. Matt King has suffered 2 broken arms this year, but if right to go, his experience could prove invaluable.

Ben Lowe, Michael Croker and Nathan Peats also miss out for this weekend. I’m unsure about playing Luke Keary with so few NRL games under his belt. A fantastic talent sure, but is he the strike they need off the bench in the finals? Parramatta-bound Peats offers a different dimension to Isaac Luke at hooker and when you have Sutton & Reynolds set in the halves, Keary’s inclusion is either interesting or questionable. Luckily South Sydney has a second chance if they go down to the Storm this weekend, and if they do some of those missing out could return as Madge is sure to make changes. I still believe South Sydney can win the competition but I believe they are making it harder for themselves. But what do I know? I’m just Average Joe with a keyboard and thoughts. Although I  was 2 spots off in my prediction!

Bring on the finals!