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?

Return of Skipper does little to lift Liverpool

Liverpool players left mulling after their dismal loss to Aston Villa.

When word filtered through that Steven Gerrard had been put back into the starting line-up for Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final clash with Aston Villa, fans would have felt a sense of confidence, even relief. No more stuffing around with line-ups, formations or tactics, just the Reds back to doing what they do best, with the skipper leading from front. They would have thought the coach, Brendan Rodgers, had learnt from his mistake of holding back the captain on the bench, the team would be brimming with confidence with their big-game leader back in the middle of the park and a display would be put on full of grit, attack and force.

 

What they got was a performance that had smidgens of the real Liverpool, but was smudged of a weak, tedious and depressing show.

Right from the moment the players left the tunnel you could tell things weren't going to be succinct. Gerrard's face spoke of a player and team lacking confidence; he looked uncomfortable. Was it because of his lack of match time? The occasion? The coach’s instructions? The line-up? The repugnant yellow kit?

The game unfolded with a 30^th minute goal from Philippe Coutinho that put the Reds one-nil up. An important early goal, but this is Liverpool here, who always go goals up, only to let some in just moments later. Typically, Aston Villa hit back through Christian Benteke just six minutes after, locking the scores up at one a piece. Liverpool continued on for the rest of the first half in unassuming fashion; they needed halftime to come, and a change in attitude and tactics.

Rodgers rolled out the changes to both line-up and formation in the second half, but much of the same remained for the rest of the game. Villa’s Fabian Delph put the claret and blue in front with a well-worked strike in the 54th minute. The rest of the second half featured some moments of possibility for Liverpool, but it just wasn’t to be. 

Indeed there was a lack of heart. At times, a lack of desire or will. But there was always a chance though, right till the end.

You were left waiting on the edge of your seat, desperately hoping for one last act from the legend, some Steven Gerrard brilliance. Even the commentator still gave them a chance, noting how Liverpool are notoriously late scorers in big games. Gerrard had his moment in the  92^nd minute with a cross-goal header from Coutinho’s corner. The placement was near perfect, beating the keeper only for a Villa defender to head out it out standing right on the goal line. The chances were there for Liverpool, many will argue of Balotelli’s offside goal but the lack of synergy in their play was the forthright factor in the defeat.

Rodgers at least brought Gerrard on from the start and gave the captain the opportunity to make up for lost time. But some of Rodgers own purchases from the buy up last summer failed to make any real impact. Lovren, Can & Markovic were all poor. Alberto Moreno should never have started, while Mario Balotelli was particularly lazy as usual.

The Liverpool we've seen over the last few months seemed to disappear. The return of Skrtel and Gerrard to the line-up should have bolstered the team, not changed the dynamics. The loss of Lucas Leiva was a huge disappointment, with the Brazilian midfielder missing a chance to play at Wembley again. Daniel Sturridge's absence would have affected the team's faith and confidence right from the time his name was left off the team sheet. The zipping-speed and pestering of Adam Lallana up front could have prevented the "passive" display as Rodgers summarised it.

Aston Villa played for their jersey, for their fans and for themselves. They were full of heart and wanted it more, to put it simply and in colloquial Australian terms, they had a dig. As a fan that is all you hope for in a sporting team, that they turn up on the day and give it their all, with the genuine self-belief they can win the game. Liverpool, unfortunately, did not turn up with that self-belief, and the fans will be brooding over how that can happen being one of the biggest sporting clubs in the world.

But who do you blame for that lack of effort and belief? The coach is responsible for instilling belief in the players, and getting them ready for a game but the players control their own effort and ultimately their destiny when their on the pitch.

Whatever the case, questions will be asked, people will be evaluated and someone will probably be held accountable.

Tomkins makes wrong move, again.

Two years ago, Super League’s best player decided to follow the trend of English Rugby League players and head to the sport’s most professional competition, the NRL. His decision featured the usual spin off lines, and was cited as a challenge and to experience something different. The fact that he signed a whopping $750,000 a year contract, and his Super League club Wigan received a $1.2 million dollar transfer fee, apparently had, little to do with it.

Tomkins will head back to England at the end of the 2015 NRL season.
Photo: Jason Gottenham (Getty Images Asia/Pacific)

At the time, there had been whispers of Sam Tomkins coming out to the NRL for well over a year, but he was the poster boy for the English competition, having just won the premiership for the second time in 2013, so it still came as a surprise when he announced he would be joined the New Zealand Warriors in 2014 for the next three seasons. At 24 years-of-age, Tomkins was about to enter a new domain. No longer would he be the best there is, no longer would be even be the best in the team, no longer would he be in his comfort zone.

Having dominated the Super League for what seemed like such a long time, despite being so young, many commentators thought Tomkins move was going to be a blinding success, and we finally would have met the ‘English Billy Slater’, or a set of appearances in which he was unable to handle the week in, week out rigorous of the more professionalised NRL. But it’s in fact been somewhere in between with Tomkins playing 25 games last season, scoring 13 tries. The moderate success could be considered a good season for a player in his first NRL season and one to build on, but after just over one year, Tomkins has decided to head back to England at the 2015 season’s end. The boy from Wigan is reportedly homesick and will shift competitions after playing out this season with the Auckland based side.

Tomkins original decision to sign with the Warriors is where he went wrong. Even Russel Crowe told him on a red carpet movie premiere not to sign with an NRL club outside of Australia. However the decision to now leave the Warriors comes as even more of a surprise and is his second mistake.

Tomkins and his officials’ believed that the warriors would be a good fit for his game, being a running fullback, darting through holes in broken play and relishing offload opportunities. In many respects, they were right, this is how the Warriors tend to play a lot of their football, but what they failed to look for in a club, was a coach who could nurture and guide him through the transition into the NRL. The warriors went through three different coaches from the time Tomkins signed until now. How that would help anyone smoothly blend into the tougher competition beggars belief. Tomkins should have sought out a club with a steady coaching staff, and someone that has ushered through some of the best fullback’s in the game. Des Hasler and Craig Bellamy come to mind. Sure he may not have got the money he was after, but if Tomkins actually came to the NRL to improve his football, he had to head to one of those clubs.

What we have now is one of the sport’s most tricky and sharp players, who was the best there was in the only other professional competition in the world, heading back after failing to improve his game, and failing to make a real impact. Initially, Tomkins looked like he could form an exciting and potent attacking partnership with Shaun Johnson, but after limited and modest combination strike, it looks like that won’t get a chance to fully develop. Johnson won the Golden Boot in 2014, crowned the best Rugby League player in the world; despite the Warriors failing to make the NRL Finals. He is reaching the peak of his playing power, having been the team’s halfback since the played in the 2011 Grand Final. With Johnson firing on all cylinders, and Tomkins having experienced a second pre-season in the Southern Hemisphere, many pundits were expecting the Warriors to come flying out the blocks this season, piecing together a game to take on the big clubs. However it has not yet proven to be, as after 6 rounds of football, Tomkins has played just two games and already has his ticket back to Heathrow booked.

The winner from the Tomkins move is current Roosters fullback, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who has signed with Warriors for 2016 and beyond. Effectively taking Tomkins marquee money of $750,000 a season along with his sport at fullback, the Warriors will prove a good fit for Tuivasa-Sheck. The Kiwi international will enjoy being back in his home country and should actually gel well with halfback, Shaun Johnson.

The loser however, is former Warriors fullback Kevin Locke, currently playing for English Super League club Salford. Locke seems almost lost and bewildered in the Super League, having strayed from his previous form and late last year he even tried to switch to Scottish Rugby Union. At the time of Tomkins signing to the Warriors, Locke was the incumbent and established custodian for both the New Zealand national side, and the Warriors. He had actually just won the battle of the fullbacks in the 2013 World Cup Final where New Zealand beat England at the death, displaying a far more impressive performance than Tomkins did for England.

The disappointing factor of it all is one that is all too common in the sporting world, the notion of what could have been. Tomkins came as THE best, and if he had of gone elsewhere, or the Warriors had of put a coach in place, or if he now had of stayed to give things time to work, we might have seen something special. NRL fans have seen glimpses of the real Sam Tomkins but it’s unlikely we’ll get to see him fully flourish. With only 20 rounds to go, Tomkins is running out of time to prove himself at the truly elite level of the NRL.

From a Rugby League point of view, it’s good that Tomkins is staying in the game and not taking up the huge offers Rugby Union clubs from around the world are throwing up to every Tom, Dick and Harry. The Super League is turning itself around from a retirement home from NRL players and will massively benefit from his return. Salford owner and billionaire, Marwan Koukash, will surely have his check book written and ready for Tomkins to sign when he gets off the plane, but it’s more likely he will return to the club that made him famous, the Wigan Warriors. Wigan, who two years ago filled their pockets, will have to reimburse the New Zealand Warriors some of the world-record transfer fee of £700,000 they received.

The Relationship: Super League & NRL

One of the most successful Rugby League clubs,
Wigan, will take part in the World Club Series next week

Last week Paul Gallen expressed his desire to finish his career in the English Super League after a final year at Cronulla in 2016. The comments came as a surprise given Gallen’s position in the game as captain of Cronulla and NSW, and vice captain of Australia. His remarks were honest and based on a lifestyle ambition to experience something different in his career. He is one of only a select few in recent times to state a genuine desire to play in the Super League, rather than chase the money in European or Japanese Rugby. Being the only other professional Rugby League competition in the world, the Super League has often been a last resort for players out of the loop in Australia, finishing their careers, or when all other options have been exhausted.

In the mid 2000’s Super League was thriving, at its height stealing hundreds of players from Australia. The exchange rate and a dismal salary cap in the NRL saw many players leave the game and head to England to play in the northern hemisphere competition. The trend was to head to Super League for the money.

Over the last five years, the exodus has actually swung the other way, with a trend of English-based players leaving British shores and heading to Australia. The global financial crisis affected the exchange rate, and the NRL finally realised it needed to boost its salary cap which swung the trend in the NRL’s favour, but majority of players have to come to experience more, soaking up the Australian lifestyle. Sam Burgess was one of the first in 2010 to make the move down-under and ever since there has been no end of players following his transition.

Much like the NRL, the Super League has had a broad variety of changes happening behind the scenes. The professionalism of the competition has lifted, they have followed many rule changes of the NRL and on the back of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup played in Europe the game has been looking to build its popularity. Much of the push for change in England has come from Salford City Red’s owner, Marwan Koukash. Koukash is the man who has been searching for an NRL franchise to purchase. The cashed up billionaire may appear like other rich owners who buy sporting teams across the world and play with them for fun, but Koukash backs up his words, having injected millions into his Salford club.  His ambitious idea of entering a team in the NRL competition based out of England and playing games in England, Dubai and Australia is fairly far-fetched, but there’s no denying his enthusiasm. His interest in the NRL is significant, but Koukash would be better kept in England and focusing on growing the game there. He has been peppering the league about introducing a marquee player allowance, has ideas for the competition and the game itself, and his obvious wealth shows he is a man who can get things done.

Ambitious ideas or realistic plans - Marwan Koukash

Koukash’s recent comments that the only way for Rugby League to grow is for ‘integration between the two competitions’, is spot on. The newly appointed NRL Head of Strategy, Shane Richardson, is a big believer in the international game and was the mastermind behind the upcoming World Club Series where three NRL teams will player three Super League teams, an expansion of the World Club Challenge where each competition’s winners play each other.

Detractors of Rugby League will write Super League off as nothing more than a game played in Northern parts of England, but Rugby League is much bigger and the 2013 world cup showed that countries in Europe do play the game.

With further integration between the leagues, and a push towards the 2017 world cup in Australia, Rugby League must grow itself both domestically and internationally. The opportunities are now there to jump on, with the pacific island nations now running teams out full of first grade level players. The same could be said for the smaller nations in Europe like France, Scotland, Italy and Ireland.

Celebrating ten years in the Super League this year, the Catalan Dragons in the south of France currently represent the most important team in both competitions as they are the key to growing the game in Europe. Todd Carney’s albeit forced-decision to join them is the best of his career. Carney will dominate the Super League and now out of the spotlight he will flourish purely focusing on his football. He has an opportunity to take a franchise to its first title, ignite the Rugby League scene in France and make up for his lost opportunities with success. 

Carney has the best chance of his career to succeed

 Carney will take Catalan to a title and his story will plant the seed of playing in Europe for other NRL players for lifestyle reasons as opposed to ‘double the money’ in the mid 2000’s. Justin Hodges this week claimed he wanted to finish his career in England and that he had held ambitions of winning a Super League title for most of his career. “My dream has always been to go over there and win a comp there,” Hodges claimed.

Further integration would occur between the competitions if players in the Super League were allowed to play in State of Origin and Australian representative teams. Allowing this would boost interest in the game in general, generating more media coverage and interest from abroad. Imagine if Todd Carney was named in the NSW team while playing in France, the interest from Super League would be immense.

Super League is on the verge of becoming as big as it was at the height of its popularity in the mid 2000’s. The ‘New Era’ it has branded itself with, a sleek professional look with new players and people like Koukash backing it, will see it grow and become a competitive option for Australian based players to consider when searching for a new contract.

Super League still retains a true sense of tribalism which seems to be disappearing from the NRL. You can walk to games with ease, stadiums are purpose built and hold an atmosphere even when there aren’t full attendances. The fans are much like football fans; loud and proud, singing for most of the game. The buzz around stadiums in local pubs is exciting. The games have one referee, decisions are made swiftly and without weeks of arguing after a bad call, the tickets are cheap and the grounds are easily accessible from public transport.

The NRL could learn a lot from its little brother on the other side of the world instead of going all corporate and trying to be so politically correct. The significant drop in crowd numbers last year was no coincidence, sports fans in Australia are becoming fed up and taking an interest in what else is on offer. Yes, become a big business and build the game financially but don’t forget to focus on retaining what Rugby League is all about, get your product right and the fans will return. You’ve only got to look back to where the game originally came from for a few ideas and answers.  

Australian Open: Hewitt, Tomic, Kyrgios spearhead Aussie line up

The Australian Open begins today for its 43^rd consecutive year in Melbourne, with the city again a buzz for the first Grand Slam of the year. After many years of looking, hoping and waiting for a strong Australian contingent to support on home turf, fans should have their nights occupied for the next week if the Australian men’s line up can build on its potential and progress towards the finals.

One of Australian Tennis' finest moments, Kyrgios defeating Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014. Will injury preventing him recapturing the same tantalising form?

With as many as ten Australians' starting in the Men's Singles, the chances for Aussies' to feature in the later stages of tournament are the best in years. Australia’s three most prolific men’s potentials include the accomplished battler Leyton Hewitt, enigmatic Bernard Tomic, and rising star Nick Kyrgios. All three come into the event with in differing form, experience and scenario’s, ensuring an interesting start to the tournament.

Sport/Life/Australia decided to take a closer look at each of the leading Australian viabilities.

Leyton Hewitt

Hewitt is the now veteran competitor who has raised the collective Australian heartbeat every January for almost two decades. Through a flurry of turnarounds, unlucky exits and heart fought wins, he is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest sports competitors.  

Thirty-three-year-old Hewitt continues to dispel the annual suggestions this will be his final start in the Australian Open, citing a desire to continue playing while ever his body permits. Whether Hewitt shrugs of the suggestions to ensure there isn’t any added pressure to his tournament, this has to be close to his final year after eighteen years playing across the globe.

Hewitt’s unmistakable grit and ability to dig deep at the closest moments to a match loss summarise the live-wire. Placing himself in almost near impossible positions to win matches at two sets down more than anyone else on the tour, you can never write off the 30 time title winner who has amassed an amazing 20 million dollars, despite having only won two grand slams.

In line for a potential 3rd round match against Milos Raonic, and with the likes of Gael Monfils, Feliciano Lopez & Novak Djokovic on his side of the draw, you can expect nothing but classic Leyton Hewitt. Intriguingly for the first time, there are two other Australians drawing the attention away from him, which could play into his favour not having to be the great hope for the Australian public.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

Bernard Tomic

Coming onto the Men’s scene in 2010 and quickly rising to be inside the top 50 in the world, Tomic has often been thought of as Australia’s great hope since Leyton Hewitt’s dominant years. That pressure, combined with his remarkable results as a junior and the attention of his perplexing father and coach, has caused mixed results for the Gold Coast raised product.

Not short on self-confidence, Tomic has a brashness blended with a genuine respect for his competitors that makes him a player either loved or loathed by the public. Tomic has entered the Australian open for the last two years as a finalist of the Sydney prelude Tournament, taking the title in 2013. This year, Tomic comes to Melbourne coming off a 3rd round loss at the Sydney APIA International (6-7, 6-7).

Claiming to be as fit as he ever has been and with his father now free to attend ATP tournaments after serving a one year ban, Bernard could just put in his best performance if he keeps his focus. Entering his fifth year on the pro-circuit, it’s hard to believe Tomic is just twenty-two years of age.

Whether he has had the needed attitude adjustment to improve on past results remains to be seen, but Tomic continues to support his father as his coach, firmly stating he has taught him everything he knows. Rejuvenated, ready-to-go and out of the spotlight with the rise of Kyrgios, Tomic could progress the furthest of his fellow countrymen.

Prediction: Semi Finals

Nick Kyrgios

Last week Nick Kyrgios went down in the first round in Sydney to World number 44, Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz, hardly a good start for the Aussie talent who materialized early last year. However, until Sydney, Kyrgios had not played in over three months, with a gruelling worldwide schedule breaking down the nineteen-year-old, forcing him to throw in the towel during September.

Of most concern to Kyrgios is a hampering back complaint that Coach Todd Larkham described as ‘neither a disc problem nor a stress fracture’, leaving it as something he can continue playing with, without risk of serious injury. After failing to feature in the season-starting Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia’s shining light will enter the Open’ well off 100%.

Kyrgios’ season last year showed his determination, famously powering past former World No.1 Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. His fourth round win over Nadal in just three sets after starting the tournament as a wildcard entry, shifted the Tennis world’s attention to the emerging Canberra born star.

Currently ranked number 53 in the world, Kyrgios will have to be able to play with significant injury in order progress in the tournament where he could face the now nearing-veteran and long-time stalwart, Rodger Federer in the fourth round.

Prediction: Fourth Round

Australia’s big three will be the Aussies' on our screens in the early rounds but other Australian names to look out for include; 2012 Australian Open Junior champion Luke Saville, and the developing James Duckworth. Both men should move past their first round matches and with home support on their side, further progression wouldn’t surprise.

With the world’s best all taking part in the tournament and many of the big names being major-injury free for the first time in years, the 2015 Australian Open looks like it will bring two weeks of highly anticipated world-class sport.

Enjoy, summer-soakers.

Liverpool: Most important game of the sesaon - AFC Wimbledon.

Steven Gerrard’s decision over the weekend to leave Liverpool Football Club at this season’s Barclays Premier League end, poses a startling scenario for all those involved with the club. Liverpool fans are faced with the end of an era, players are poised to play into the future without their inspirational captain, Coach Brendan Rodgers has the impossible task of replacing a legend, and Gerrard himself will be dealing with ending a 25 year association with his hometown and only club.

Steven Gerrard will say goodbye in 2015

Although having played his entire career with Liverpool, Gerrard’s decision was hardly surprising considering the way this season has played out for the reds. What a difference a year can make, this time last year Liverpool were a top of the Premier League Ladder, flying high on the attacking style employed by Rodgers, led by the season’s player of the year and best striker, Luis Suarez. This season, Gerrard and his men sit in 8^th place on the EPL ladder, having already been knocked of the Champions League in the round stage, and their magical striker is long gone.

Liverpool’s dismal season thus far can ultimately be traced back to Suarez’s extraordinary ‘not again’ moment at the World Cup in Brazil. Leaving the club with no choice but to offload him and pick up a handsome transfer fee when it was there for the taking, the exit of Suarez caused two problems. One, the ultimate loss of one of the world’s best who scored a remarkable 31 goals in season 13/14 from just 33 appearances; and two, the effect on confidence of the players still in the team without their gun striker. Brendan Rodgers bought players who he claimed would become ‘world class’ under his guidance, and made the somewhat panic buy of Mario Balotelli just after the season started.

With limited success on the horizon and the knowledge his best ever chance at winning a premier league – the only title that he hasn’t claimed – was last year, Gerrard has made a decision for himself to leave on a high, still as regular starting player, and as captain. While Gerrard’s commitment to the club for the rest of the season cannot be questioned, the players around him must now lift and ensure the Steven Gerrard Farewell Tour is as successful as it can be. And that starts tomorrow morning Australian time, when Liverpool travel to Kingsmeadow and take on AFC Wimbledon in the Third round of the FA Cup. This is by far and away the most important game of the season thus far for Liverpool, who must now shift their focus to sending out their club legend on a high. With recent measly performances against mediocre sides, Rodgers must send out a strong line up and send a clear message to fans with a dominant performance against ‘The Dons’ in the first game since Gerrard’s announcement. The Reds do not return to Anfield until January 20, when they ironically face Chelsea, who ended their chance of a Premier League title last year when Gerrard ‘let it slip’.

As a Liverpool fan, it’s just so hard not to wonder what would have happened this season if Suarez had of stayed. Would Liverpool be currently on top of the table? Would Gerrard have already been resigned for another year? Would Liverpool again be on the cusp of their first Premier League era title? It’s a case of what ifs; for the team of 13/14 it’s a case of what could have been, for Liverpool as a club it’s a case of what’s next, for the fans it’s the thought and anxiety of what’s to come without their captain of the last 12 years. While time can be spent wondering, in reality it’s the grim realisation of what’s happened and what can’t be changed. The only thing that’s in Liverpool’s control is their commitment to the rest of the season, and with seven FA Cups to their name, surely they must now chase their eighth and help deliver Gerrard’s third to send out their club’s greatest a winner.

Corporate NRL ‘dumps’ Blatchys Blues

Blatchy's Blues fans celebrate with Michael Ennis

Recently I went to the Ticketek website to investigate the logistics of my mates’ annual pilgrimage to State of Origin games in Sydney. Every year for the last 5 years, around 10 mates and I, have donned the blue wigs, shirts and morph suits, and joined ‘Blatchys Blues’. The first year we went, I was fascinated by how a bloke, who held his 18^th birthday at the 2^nd state of origin game in 1999 with a group similar to myself, had transformed the origin scenery forever by growing his group year-by-year to establish a mass of coveted blues fans. Last year, 15,000 people stood with him, donning those familiar wigs and shirts.

What I found on the Ticketek website was nothing short of disgraceful.

Blatchys Blues = Gone.

Completely removed from any marketing material appearing on the website and replaced by the very corporate and smug public relations sensitive tagline of ‘NSW supporters section’. As if the NRL is trying to take credit for organising this feature of the crowd, much like they took credit for the NRL Auckland Nines, when in fact it was organised by 2 blokes with a vision. Much like those 2 blokes who had a vision and should have been much more recognised, Dan Blatch’s vision of Blatchy’s Blues has now become null en void.

The disgusting decision by the NRL in which they have thrown tradition and history out the door of the plane they are charting to become the ‘greatest game of all’ leaves them on course for a destination void of all passion, notoriety and stigma. Without history and tradition, you’ve got nothing.

Why the reason to dump the fascinating story behind Blatchys Blues? To make it more appealing for families? To aid those who can’t read a paragraph stipulating what Blatchys Blues actually is?

Seriously, if you want fans ‘engaged’ you need to have things to keep them ‘engaged’, and the story behind Blatchys Blues was just one of those that keep fans and the public talking.

I put it to Dave Smith, CEO of the NRL ,to immediately install ‘Blatchys Blues’ back onto marketing and promotional material to truly recognise the group that has become the largest organised supporters group in Australia. The group that lets the ‘suits’ sit in their corporate box and marvel at the beast that is origin.

We are Blatchy’s Blues. We are the ones the players come to thank at the end of the game. The ones Michael Jennings salutes to after an origin try. The ones who remind Billy Slater he is a ‘banker’ when in Sydney. We play our part in making sure origin is the most watched, most attended and most talked about sporting event in Australia.

You might think I’m being over the top, but, would Cricket Australia let go of the Barmy Army on an Ashes Tour? Where would the Western Sydney Wanderers be if not for the RBB? Supporters groups have long been established around the world, and are a growing trend in Australian sport. They are a transcending part of sporting contests and produce as much hype as the game often does. Liverpool’s KOP, South Sydney’s Burrow, The Fanatics at the Australian Open and the hundreds of other supporters groups around the world, they all have their place.

You see it’s not the fact we’re all sectioned together dressed in blue paraphernalia that makes us different from any other fan at the game, it’s the emotional investment we put in. It’s the recognition and understanding of where the group has come from. What we’ve been trough. The choice you make at the time of purchasing tickets to go the extra mile, do something, anything, which might help us win.  

This year, Blatchy’s Blues will be entering its 16^th year, a remarkable feat considering our leader Dan Blatch is now well into his thirties. With literally nearly a decade of dominance by Queensland upon us, this year shapes up no different to the last, bigger and more important than ever. The missed chances, the what if’s, the refereeing blunders, the maroon arrogance, the heart break’s and devastated train trips home all drive the motivation to don the blue wig’s once more, in the belief that finally, the drought can be broken.

Finally, we go one-in-a-row.

If you’re still having trouble getting your Blatchy’s belief back, type ‘state of origin pump up’ into the YouTube search bar. You’re welcome.

2014 NRL Season. Let's go!

Can Boom Rookies help North-Queensland to a maiden NRL title?

 
What a useless summer of sport we just witnessed. The cricket was more boring than a christening, the tennis wasn’t what it used to be and well soccer, is soccer. Nah to be fair, there were some highlights over summer, but you can feel the days getting shorter and the temperature slightly dropping, and this means only one thing... *Rock voice* - “Finally...  the footy, is coming back...... to your lives!!” A new season brings hopeful predictions, increased banter in the workplace and a whole heap of unknowns.  In what is sure to be another crazy season of Rugby League in Australia, I’ll begin with the ‘Jewell in the crown’ of origin.

At the conclusion of last year’s decider, we went to leave the slowly-emptying ANZ Stadium, I turned to my mate and said in my voice which now resembled a chain smoker of 40 years, make sure you remember this, take a look around, don’t forget this feeling. Smug Queenslanders chanting there catch-cry from the other end of the field, the distance between us and them somewhat resembling how far away the last blues win was. For the love of god, please win blues, end the rort. And if you don’t, sack Laurie and bring back the only bloke who could save our state from a decade of torment, the messiah of NSW origin, Gus.   

Now for the clubs, Firstly, the Roosters, their brand all of a sudden feels like the strongest and coolest in the comp. Look at their logo, go ahead, it's bold and bright. But will their rookie coach be able to win two titles, in just two seasons? If there is one thing they have, its depth. How are they under the cap? My favourite part of the 2013 season was seeing Sam Burgess steam-roll Sonny-Bill Williams in round 1, what a moment. Finally Burgess might truly become a great, notching premierships rather than perfect tens. Roosters, Souths, Thursday night... Ohhhhhh sometimes, I get a good feeling.
 
Although grudge match of the year, that belongs to round 22, Sunday 6:30 pm. Eels vs. Raiders, at TIO Stadium, in... Darwin. Who the hell scheduled that one? Parramatta are in their best position in 12 months, that is, without Ricky Stuart. No matter his reasons for going to Canberra, Stuart, who is a self-proclaimed ‘Players Coach’, let everyone associated at Parramatta down by walking out. Or did he do them the ultimate favour, saving them from 2 more years under Ricky Stuart.
 
The team I most want to see play this year, are the “Let’s gone Warriors”. Honestly, I have no idea what that sign was about, something to do with their horror run before a mid-season fight back last year, or Russel Packer’s fertilization of Suncorp Stadium. You would have seen Sam Tomkins in the nines, but seriously find some vision of the bloke from Super League, CAN get across the line. He reminds me of Dugan when he first came into the NRL with his slightly-lanky agile running and ability to get through a gap. Johnson-Tomkins combo please, with a side of kiss-blowing Konrad and the Manu ‘The Beast’ Vatuvai.
 
The Storm, The Dogs, The Eagles. All roll with passionate leaders and their Authoritative management styles. Will the Storm’s veterans continue to dominate, or will one of them fall to a season-ending injury which never seems to have happened. What will Des Hasler bring to the NRL buffet without Ben Barba? Surely to fly ‘under-the-radar’ but carry the siege mentality. Who blew more gaskets last year? The V8 supercars or Geoff Toovey. Manly fell short at the last hurrah in October but with Tony Abbot as their number 1 ticket holder, SPC beans might not be the only organisation the PM ensures stays at the top. I predict one of these authoritarian-led army’s to miss the eight, by injury, luck or form, one of the giants will fall.

 

Ah, the Queensland trio. Where to start... Will the Cowboys fire under a new coach? The fresh and exciting roll out of youngsters Felt, Bowen & co was an appetiser that left me searching for the main. If they can put it together with the mix of experience and youth, look out. Anthony Griffin’s made more changes at the Broncos than the missus would outfits before a Saturday night out. His decision to axe Thaiday as captain is ballsy. Justin Hodges won’t be back for a while, so Corey Parker is going to have to prove his worth alone. The Titans seemed to have a solid, but on/off year last season, and unless they’ve made significant improvement over the off-season, they may have some déjà-vu.

Dragons = Goneskies, Steve Price should be using his spare time to see if Mt Ousley or Bulli Pass is a quicker exit out of the Gong. Dugan does everything for them, someone else have a crack. The Tigers will be the most-quoted team to be having a ‘re-building year’ this season. Hopefully Potter holds Board-Voldemort at bay and casts up some wins from his book of spells e.g. Brooks, Simona, Sironen, Richards, Farah. The Sharkies were lucky beating the Cowboys in the finals last year and could have beat manly, but without their figurehead of Flanno, they might struggle this year.
 
The Knights and Panthers play each other in Round 1 and both have had interesting summers. Oldcastle, sorry... Newcastle have lost legend Danny Buderus and criminal Russel Packer. Bennet appears to be trying to buy a premiership with experience rather than digging in and developing talent. The Panthers couldn’t be more different, citing a five-year plan to develop their title-winning youth. Will Jamie Soward find that confidence that brought him a premiership ring, or have a holiday with the Windsor Wolves.
 

Thank the lord, religion is back on folks, The religion of Rugby League. Clear your schedules, fill your fridge, sign-up to your tipping comps, run your errands. Thursday night your year begins. 26 beautifully packed weekends, 3 Wednesdays each with more hype than a turn of a century and a finals series sprinkled on top where if your team makes the eight, anything truly is possible.

Enjoy!

Michael Jennings, Penrith, NSW.

Considering Gould was meant to bring some club stability and composure to the Panthers, it’s ironic that their current Michael Jennings situation is nothing but a confusing mess.

Michael Jennings was picked from reserve grade to play for NSW in game 1; some say this is crazy, being the first reserve grade selection in 29 years.

Jennings was always going to be picked. Ricky wanted to ‘pick and stick’ as much as he could from the 2011 squad, and Jennings was one of the Blues best last year in game 1 before being injured and missing the remainder of the series. And to be honest, NSW are short on centres.

Does the fact he was dumped to Windsor reflect a poor attitude from Jennings? Or poor form? On the surface, to be honest I can’t figure out what his done that bad. He had 2 beers on ANZAC day (un-Australian if he didn’t) whilst recovering from an injury, and has scored 6 tries from 8 games this year. However, we will never know what his like at training or as a member of the team. A deeper insight is unavailable.

At the start of the year, reports ran about how Jennings had learnt his lessons of the past, and realised 2012 was the year to make the most of lost opportunities and give proper focus to realise his potential.

Now it seems the Panthers are trying to in-directly force Jennings from the foot of the mountains. Ivan Cleary and Phil Gould both play their cards close to their chests, but Cleary’s comments at press conferences have been bizarre, and Gould’s talk that slips via the back door into the media sometimes seems disrespectful of his men.

One has to get the feeling that these 2 NRL ‘poker-playing’ figures are trying to use some reverse psychology on their main man. Although displaying actions that may support the idea that he is being shopped around may not work with Gen Y Jennings. In previous era’s if a player was to hear that he is not wanted at the club because he is not performing to his potential, it would more than likely have been a kick-into gear for the player. However in today’s age, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him spit the dummy and walk straight out. Hell, it looks like Michael Gordon has.

The Panthers are obviously in financial trouble from the pre-Gould management of the salary cap, and with Jennings reportedly on $600,000 without third-party arrangements, and the figure set to rise to $700,000 next year due to a back ended deal, it’s understandable for Gould and Clearly to be disappointed with Jennings’ performance. But why give Jennings the cold shoulder? His only a centre and the club were the ones who offered too much cash.

Gould is not new to rugby league and one cannot doubt his knowledge of the game but he is new to the financial management of the salary cap. Never before at a club has he been involved in the financial arrangements of contracts. He will, and has whined to the NRL about Penrith’s situation, and from a fan’s perspective Gould will probably try and sign a team of old-school solid ‘tradies’ that can be a ‘champion team, not a team of champions’. I get this feeling from his singing of Clint Newton, a premiership winning player who is a family man with no baggage. But is he really that good of a player? And surely there would have been a reserve grader who could have filled a 2^nd –row spot? Blake Austin has made the jump up from the juniors and looks sensational.

Penrith need Michael Jennings more than ever, to ship him off would be a disaster in a number of ways. Financially it might give them some room to move, but who are they going to sign? They will still have to pay Luke Walsh’s contract if they sign another playmaker. The solution is to wait it out. In 2-3 years all contracts drawn-up by past administration will be finished. Sign Jennings for 300K on the cap when his re-newel comes up. Do the same with all the other players on over’s.

Penrith’s situation in the condensed rugby league market of Sydney is interesting. They sit far enough away that you sometimes forget about them, which isolates them from alliances that other clubs like the Dogs, Tigers, Rabbits and Roosters have formed to share marketing and promotional strategies. With expansion on the cards and the un-written idea that one Sydney club might not survive one day, Penrith’s isolation might be viewed as concerning. But Gus knows this is actually their strength. His on record as saying he wants the ‘Panthers’ brand to be one of the most recognisable in Australian sport in 10 years. Gould has even gone as far as registering names like ‘Western Sydney Panthers’ with trademark agencies. It looks like suburban stadiums won’t be used in the future with a similar AFL style set-up with 2 stadiums for all the clubs, but Penrith’s little bit of isolation may see them become like Geelong in Melbourne, who are the only team in Victoria to not play at the 2 big grounds. GWS entered the Sydney sport’s scene this year and being the furthest team west, the Panthers appear to be putting up a one-club fight against the AFL. The A-league will even enter a new team this year. This is why Jennings is vital for the success of the Panthers. He is worth more to the club promotionally than any other player on their books.  

He's come right through the club’s junior system. He's lived in St Mary’s his whole life. He has a cultural background. He has 2 brothers in the Panthers system right now. He is the ideal man to be the face of a club, promote everything it represents and importantly for the NRL and Panthers, fight the other codes off in the West. He is almost like the Izzy Falou of the Panthers, appealing to those of Pacific Islander background and those who live in the district who can see anyone can make it to the big-time, no matter what socio-economic background one comes from.  

Jennings current exile from the Panthers could be the best thing to happen to him. He was suspended after his origin haymaker and missed the weekend’s game against Manly, and won’t play before game 2 because Penrith have the bye next week. His origin episode showed a man frustrated with his critics, but his willingness to prove himself. He wants to prove he is a team player and has the right attitude. Hopefully Ricky is providing him with such a close, tight-knit family environment in the blues camp, that it will be the only places he feels comfortable right now. I say start the camp this week Ricky, get the fella’s that don’t play next weekend into camp now. Jennings is being banished from his club team, so stuff it he says, I’ll just play for the blues. There my team, there my mates, they like me and stick up for me here. If Ricky makes it a safe-haven for Jennings, and if he takes this attitude, he will be Man of the Match in game 2 at ANZ stadium.

Luke Lewis’ stripping of the captaincy is a head-spinner in itself, but his comments on the Jennings saga show some possible player discontent at the head-honcho partnership of Cleary and Gould. He identifies the problem saying "They should tell all the boys so everyone knows what's going on, Especially Michael Jennings”. Speaking with honesty and sending a clear message he says, "I think it's all talk, but where there's a spark there's a flame” and showing his support for his blues brother and Penrith partner, "I will go into bat for Michael Jennings a million times over, I don't want him to leave, he is one of my mates and always will be and if he needs me to go down fighting with him I will."

The pressure is sure to intensify on the Panthers as Parramatta can only cop it for so long. The bye might save them some grilling but I predict there will be some media presence around Mulgoa Road this week.

How good is this time of the year with ‘State of THE Origin’ being back!! The drama that comes with it, the NRL comp games see some debutants and strange matches, winter setting in etc. Can’t wait for game 2 to be in the Blatchy’s Blues section again! It was one of the best things I did in 2011. Also not having a crack at Penrith here just summing up a situation =) Personally I think Jennings was one the NSW best in game 1. Gee I hope he scores a couple in Sydney! Enjoy your League people.!

Adios, Max.

Back on the Blog

Wow, I haven't used this in almost 2 years! A lot has happened in that time...

• At the start of 2012 I moved to Killarney Vale on the Central Coast of NSW with my folks.
• I finished my 2nd year of uni at CSU at the end of 2011.
• I applied to go to UNI at Ourimbah (Newcastle University), but after having a lack of motivation to study, being indecisive about whether I wanted to continue to study teaching, and suffering a wrist/elbow injury since Christmas 2010, I elected to defer for 6/12 months.
• As I write this blog, I've already had an Ulna Nerve Transposition completed on my left elbow, but have to have the surgery re-done as I've ripped the internal transposition by doing too much physio.

I've been thinking about this blog for a while and why I should/shouldn't use it.

When I first applied for UNI I applied for a Sports Journalism course and have always had a keen interest in sports, mainly the NRL. I got accepted into the course but cited there 'not being enough jobs', and chose teaching instead. So I'm going to write some articles like I have previously on the NRL, mainly match reports or opinion pieces.

I might also use this as some sort of journal/diary to my life as I am now.

Basically the reason I'm going to write a few things is the same reason I started the blog before, I'm laid up with injuries and if I don't have something to do, I go bonkers & become depressed.

So I will post match reports/stories via facebook and twitter =)

Here's my arm after surgery #1 too...... Adios, Maxi..