The predicaments of Pearce & Paul

Gallen and Pearce during Wednesday night's humiliation against Queensland. Both player's futures in the Origin jersey are clouded.

The New South Wales captain, Paul Gallen, and halfback of 2015, Mitchell Pearce, both find themselves in curious predicaments following Wednesday night’s loss to Queensland. Gallen is nearing the end of a polarizing career that has spanned almost 15 years at the top level of Rugby League. Pearce is in the middle of his career, at the claimed prime position of the average ten year window Rugby League players are said to have in the game. Both players have recognitions and awards for what they have done on the football field but they are facing intriguing situations that will have path-determining effects on their future in Rugby League.   

The might of the Queensland State of Origin team over the last decade has had a significant influence on both Paul Gallen and Mitchell Pearce. They have continually had to turn up and be defeated and at times humiliated by the power of the future-immortals led Maroons side. I

n what must be a soul-deflating couple of months each winter, Gallen has played in nine origin series’ since 2006. He has won only once. Without disrespecting Gallen, that is an incredibly sad record to hold. He must have felt so much pain over that length of time, year after year coming away with nothing. It appears Gallen developed through this time a feeling that everyone was against him, with Queensland often getting the rub-of-the-green on contentious game-defining decisions that would break the motivation and soul of the New South Wales side.

Playing with Cronulla, who are often considered to be a shambolic club that haven’t won anything, ever, and that realistically, not too many people care about, has not helped this feeling of being ripped off, under the pump, written off and soul-sucking sense of losing, or not getting anywhere. Gallen is, or used to be, one of the most penalized players in the competition. He would always seem to give away a penalty just as his team was making progress in a game, and just about every time he would argue the penalty with the referee. He is often seen in pleading arguments with the men in the middle, rarely does he accept he gave away a penalty at a key part of the game. At times, it appears it’s everyone else’s fault, but Paul Gallen’s.

He is now in some form of limbo as he has not yet signed an NRL contract with Cronulla for next season. Wanting a one year deal for the 2016 season, Gallen was at the center of controversy once again before game three after his club coach, Shane Flanagan revealed Gallen wouldn’t be playing Origin next year. While Gallen would have loved to have made this public after a NSW series win, he was thrown under the bus by his coach and had to dispel Flanagan’s comments as wishes rather than fact.

Whether Gallen does play origin next year or not, his commitment in a long and loyal 15 years at Cronulla has earned him a contract at the Sharks but in signing him for just one year, are Cronulla risking future player development and future salary cap maneuvers. If you’re going to sign someone for one year, wouldn’t it be with the hope they could actually help you win a premiership? While Gallen can obviously genuinely do this, the Sharks just don’t have the roster to make this a reality.

But with some of the most talented juniors in the country on their books and titles at youth level, maybe it is time for the Sharks and Gallen to go their separate ways. A transition from Gallen’s leadership and a fresh start may just be what the Sharks need after some tumultuous years.  Whether it is next year or the one after, it’s going to happen eventually.

Gallen has stated before he would love to play overseas in the English Super League and with the door now open for big money deals in the Northern Hemisphere competition via a marquee player signing exemption from the salary cap, the Cronulla and NSW skipper would be ideally suited to guiding a club in Nothern England. A hard, passionate and determined player, Gallen would thrive in the growing Super league.

Pearce, has probably just reached the end of his representative career at origin level. He made his debut at the age of 19, returned for a stint two years after, and then played for three years straight before being dropped for last year’s series. Strangely, he was given another chance by NSW coach Laurie Daley this year despite the only Blues series win coming without Pearce in the side. With huge pressure on the Roosters halfback to finally deliver, or at least play a hand in, a Blues series victory this year, it was always going to be a tough ride for the now 26-year-old son of Rugby League legend, Wayne Pearce. After going missing when the Blues needed someone to step up in game one, Pearce put in a solid performance in game two and many began to think this could finally be the time he would get the egg of his back. But with the Blues steamrolled on Wednesday night, and Pearce having little to no impact, it will surely be the last time the halfback is seen on a State of Origin field. Unbelievably, is has no become clear that Pearce directed a barrage of banter at legendary halfback Jonathan Thurston during the first two games. For a bloke who was questionably given another chance in that arena, Pearce clearly didn’t understand the concept of going quietly about your business and letting your actions and results speak for themselves.

But that doesn’t mean the end for Mitchell Pearce, who is a premiership winner after being part of the 2013 Sydney Roosters side. It was in this year that Pearce recovered strongly from his origin loss and ultimately dumping. He was part of a club that was transformed under rookie coach Trent Robinson, led by a revival both on and off the field that saw the players coming together through strict dietary, personal and social sacrifices. Many of these inspired by the elite athlete and unique individual that is Sonny Bill Williams. There is no doubt the influence of Williams would have helped Pearce reach the highest achievement in the game.

Pearce should return to club football, and focus on nothing but that for the rest of his career. Manly players have has wonderfully successful careers at club level and missed out on being a representative star. One halfback that Pearce could consider echoing is former Titans halfback, Scott Prince. Prince was a premiership winner at the Tigers, but never went on to feature in representative teams. Despite this, he played 300 games, was captain of two clubs and won a Clive Churchill medal. On top of this, he was one of the most humble and likeable players in the game.

Pearce will no doubt continue his playing career with the Sydney Roosters for many years to come, and will quite possibly achieve more success at club level, but for now it looks like he won’t be found in a representative side. But this presents enormous opportunity for Pearce to show what he is truly made of, and chance for a determined fightback. But barring leading the Roosters into a Grand Final, it’s difficult to see him playing State of Origin again.

Gallen faces some tough personal decisions on his playing future, and with the Cronulla Sharks his career club, it’s hard to see him accepting an NRL contract with any other club. He will either be given and accept a deal at the sharks or shift abroad. His future with the NSW side will also be at the forefront of his future in the NRL, if he had of won the series on Wednesday night, he probably would have stepped away from Origin and dedicated himself to the Sharks for a final year. But no one likes to go out a loser and if he plays in the NRL next year, it’s likely he’d have another crack with the Blues. That is, if the coach decides to select the ageing forward.

As always in Rugby League, only time will tell.

 

Napa overlook a blessing for Blues

Napa is a shadow of former League destroyer Sonny Bill Williams.

It’s the end of the first set-of-six in the series decider and New South Wales have just been pummeled by Queensland, playing the ball on the last tackle just 15 meters out from their own try-line. Pushed back each tackle by a Maroon wall of defense.

The hostile Suncorp Stadium crowd are on their feet directing all sorts of vile abuse at the Blues as they attempt to kick their way out of the hell they’ve just suddenly and unexpectedly entered. The Maroons look nothing of the veteran-outfit they played in during the first two games, a new sting has entered their defense, a ruthless mongrel in their intensity not seen since the Gorden Tallis days.

Already, their debutant forward, Dylan Napa, has made a significant impact on the game with three back-to-back tackles, linking with Nate Myles for two; and Sam Thaiday for the other. Both players clearly spurred on by the youth’s enthusiasm. Queensland’s nicest bloke, Matt Scott, has obviously drank a can of the Napa soda, and crushes Mitchell Pearce into the turf with a late hit after the halfback delivers a wayward kick downfield, only just passing the Maroons 40 meter line.

The Blues are stunned, not even two minutes into the game and they’ve realized they’re up against a completely different opponent than they’ve played before. Mal’s men heave the ball up field with inspiring runs from their forwards. The Cauldron is living up to its name with the Blues visibly unprepared for what is upon them as they encounter a world of trouble on just the second set of the match. They face a quick-fire attacking raid by the Maroons as they spread the ball to their left hand side with a customary Queensland play that sees Darius Boyd fly over in the corner virtually untouched for the first try. The crowd erupts with the Maroons rushing over to Boyd to celebrate the try. NSW are left both breath and speechless behind the try line, with the roar of the Queensland fans all they can hear.

Enough with my attempt at script-writing ‘’The Decider”, only the players have that opportunity. But in all honesty, is Mal Meninga’s decision to leave out Dylan Napa a blessing for the Blues or what? NSW have found a raw and raging talent in forward David Klemmer and the excitement he has brought to the Blues line up has been the edge they’ve needed. He has a fire in his belly, his ruthless, and he doesn’t give a shit about reputations. This later observation clearly evident by the story of him telling Cameron Smith he was a ‘has been’ and Corey Parker to ‘Get @$%#ed’ after he was asked to display some respect for the esteemed Maroons. In Dylan Napa, Queensland have themselves a David Klemmer. Hungry, rough around the edges and a player that will display absolutely no respect for Paul Gallen or the rest of the Blues team. Exactly what you want in an Origin game.

Some of Napa’s hits have been reminiscent of one of the game’s all time best, Sonny Bill Williams. If the shoulder charge hadn’t have been banned, Napa would already have played origin. He is a player that plays on the edge, he rips in and genuinely inflicts pain into his opposition. He is obviously made for an origin type arena. He’s hit on Paul Gallen in just his third game for the Roosters was monstrous. Trent Robinson has made him work for his place the Chooks first grade team, as Napa has spent time in the NSW cup, possibly as a means to tame his aggression and develop a more overall and consistent game.

With Queensland showing their age in Origin version 36 (2015), they could have done with someone of Napa’s mold to muster a new dimension to their team. With Billy Slater out, Queensland will have Dane Gagai making his debut and the selection of Josh Papalii may point to Meninga not wanting to rush in players who haven’t been there and done it before in such a heavy game. But to win games of this nature, sometimes you need to take a little risk. Daley has done it with Klemmer, and Queensland have it in Napa, but have gone the safe option this time round. No doubt the twenty-two-year-old will get his chance, but have Queensland overlooked their best available secret weapon right when they need it?

Time will tell. Bring on game three.

Blues must enter MCG with guns loaded.

The Blues must target the vulnerable Daly Cherry-Evans at the MCG.

New South Wales are on the ropes. They're on the verge of being knocked-out. Their inspiring series' win last year will mean nothing if they lose again tonight and effectively go out in straight-sets. It's time for the blues to step up to the plate and fight fire with fire. 

Queensland came out in game one and played like, well, Queensland. Their typical style of grubby tactics was called out by Paul Gallen this week, but it was hard to miss if you watched game one. The knee's, the elbow's and shoulder's, basically all the pointy parts of the human anatomy, including Nate Myles head were thrown into the Blues and it was as if the Farah-led team sat back and let it happen, just as they sat back and let the game fall out of their hands in the final ten minutes.

While Laurie Daley has backed the halves pairing of Hodkinson and Pearce to actually seize the moment, the return of Paul Gallen is the one thing that might actually get the Blues over the line. You see, love him or loathe him, Gallen is a leader. His actions may not always lead to success, but he won't back down. He has shown this week via his comments that he won't be bullied or overawed by the lauded and all-mighty Queensland team.

But Gallen can't do it on his own, and the man who has been missing the most from the Blues line up this year is Greg Bird. A no-nonsense, old-school footballer who plays the game with a grit and determination that many modern players simply don't have. He's the type of player who is filthy after a loss, doesn't give a shit what the opposition thinks and you won't catch him indulging in a smiling bro-shake with his opponent at full-time. A true New South Welsh-man.

With Bird in the team the blues played with a fire last year, they wanted it so badly. This was optimized through Beau Scott's effort in game two that saw him collapse upon returning to the sheds from exhaustion. Jarryd Hayne's incredible efforts in attack, securing the vital points that they weren't able to muster in the years' beforehand. But as they found out in Sydney, the Blues no longer have Hayne to clinch it for them. The ever reliable and consistent Cooper Cronk guided the Maroons to victory when NSW couldn't take what was on offer for them.

Tonight, Cronk is watching from the stands and the man-of-the-moment and the self-titled "next Matty Johns" enters the no. 7 jersey for Queensland. The pressure is surely on the Manly playmaker after been called into the team following the Titans-backflip saga. He has the weight of being Rugby League's ten million dollar man on his shoulders, and his only appearance for Queensland as a starting halfback last year was mediocre at best.

That's who NSW must target tonight if they're going to make an impact on the game. Laurie Daley needs to turn off the Mr. Nice Guy switch on his back and give the Blues instructions to let rip. James Tamou provided a prelude to Gallen's epic media blast of Queensland earlier on in the camp, and it's time he put his money where his mouth is. One of the biggest and most agile forwards in the game, the mammoth Tamou should be sent out with instructions to knock Daly Cherry-Evans off his ivory tower. Why you can be sure Beau Scott won't be far away from Jonathan Thurston and Justin Hodges, as Paul Gallen will seek out Nate Myles and Sam Thaiday, the rough-em-up gang needs help from the rest of the team.

Billy Slater smashed Josh Dugan with a shoulder charge in game one so Dugan needs to return the favor; lead a kick-chase and be the first to meet the fullback with an open-arm. The mean looking Dave-Klemmer appears to have that fire in his belly that resembles a young Mark Geyer He could be a player to come off the bench and tear things up. Michael Jennings is in desperate need of a big game, and should be ready like a bull in a gate to get past Justin Hodges.

It's going to take every member of the NSW team getting over the bloke opposing them to win the game. That goes for the centers and wingers, just  as much as the prop forwards. Tim Sheens said yesterday that game two is always the best of the series as "one team wants to win, and one team has to win". That's what the blues have to do tonight, they have to win. Otherwise, it's game over for 2015. It's time for the blues to wind back the clock and play like era's gone by. Queensland must be put off their game, and the Victorians are crying out for some biff. Hell, even the now almost clean-skin sport could do with a dose of argy-bargey.

Cut off the chains Laurie and let them loose, there's a series to save. 

Five of the toughest, and five grubs

Josh Reynolds has to be at the top of the current list, 'Grub' is his nickname.

The sport of Rugby League has never been short of those willing to do ‘whatever it takes’ to win. Such a physical game sees opponents engage in acts that have the intensive purposes of doing what is required to win a game. These acts can be viewed in a number of ways; as tough physical elements one of the most gruelling sports in the world, as pain inflictors on opponents aiming to bring them down and out of the contest, or acts of thuggery designed to reduce another’s mental state of mind. The common theme is that the players are doing what they believe at the time, will help them win the game.

In recent years the ‘one punch and your off’ rule has allowed certain players to have free reign with such acts, that is they are not afraid of retribution, as there will be none. Over the weekend a number of players were involved in incidents that have led to suspensions. Whether it is a cheap shot, high tackle, ‘dog’ act, verbal stoush or rough play, the grubs are well known in today’s game because of the extensive television coverage. Sport/Life/Australia decided to examine just who are the biggest grubs and toughest players in the NRL.

The Grubs

Josh Reynolds

Almost renowned now for his ‘Rottweiler’ attitude of just not going away, the pesky and tearaway five-eighth has risen to the top of the game through his energetic yet not-give-a-stuff attitude. No other young player in the game rips in more than Josh Reynolds and his early mentor in Michael Ennis certainly did rub off on the Canterbury-Bankstown junior.  Andrew Johns summarised Reynolds efforts as “like driving at 120km/h all the time”. He also went on to say that “whilst its gets you places in quicker, in the short term, in the long term it catches up with you”. The ‘grub’ as he has been nicknamed would have to close to being marked the number one grub.

Paul Gallen

Many commentators in the media often state that Paul Gallen polarises people’s opinion; that you either hate him, or you love him. While there’s no doubt his hated in Queensland, you’d have trouble finding many fans in New South Wales outside the Shire that would preach their love for their own State of Origin captain. While Gallen had seemed to have cleaned up his image off the field before the ASADA drugs scandal hit, his on-fields efforts at times often take his team two-steps forward but one-step back. Credited with more statistical achievements than any of the other forward in the game today, Gallen’s toughness and commitment can never be questioned, but the G-Train’s discipline often lets him down. A penalty given away for a cheap shot too often leads to a try against his team, which ultimately lets down more people than just himself.  Fines, suspensions and public apologies, Gal’s had them all.

Dubbed the 'Bash Brothers' when they line up together, Greg Bird and Paul Gallen are a formidable pair.
(Photo courtesy of The Daily Telegraph)

Greg Bird

Greg Bird’s tackle on the weekend has resulted in a six-week suspension due to carry over points from pervious charges of the same nature. The tackle was described by Matthew Johns as “the perfect tackle five years ago” and whilst bird believed the referee “saw something else”, Peter Sterling was strong in his opinion that Bird had no angle to try and avoid the charge deeming it simply “a dumb tackle in today’s game”. But Bird is one of the hardest players in today’s game who retains the instincts of the player of previous decades. His hard-nosed and take-no-prisoners approach has proven invaluable at representative level particularly for the NSW blues, but to have Bird’s approach is a risky style, he’s one of the most penalised players in the game.

Michael Ennis

Dubbed the ‘Minister for trouble’ or something of the like by legendary commentator Ray Warren, Michael Ennis has to be one of the all-time grub’s of the game. He even has the honour from the annual Rugby League Week Players Poll. Ennis’ sly use of sledging and the thuggery components to his game elevate him to the very top of the game’s foul. For Ennis, it’s business as usual and his tactics seem to un-nerve some of the game’s biggest stars. Labelled ‘a grub’ by the cool and collected Nathan Hindmarsh after a fist-fight in 2012, Ennis took it in his stride. He has had running battles with Billy Slater, Robbie Farah and Jarryd Hayne over his career. Ennis seems to avoid suspension by using tactics within the realms of the rules, while the others on this list have visited the judiciary on numerous occasions.

Nate Myles

Nate Myles has proven he has one of the hardest heads in the NRL, although James Graham might protest. Myles is Queensland’s current go-to man to put the Blues players off their game. His face rubs, neck bends, knee twists and head charges only serve to fire up the New South Wales side and make Myles look like a goose. The man has one infamous off-field records but has found his stability on the Gold Coast. Not to suggest that hasn’t changed his style of play which can range from just running hard to head-high tackles.

The Toughest

James Graham

Many will argue Graham should be well and truly on the Grub list, and there is plenty to argue for with his crazed bite of Billy Slater’s ear in the 2012 NRL Grand Final, but Graham has a steel to him. He work rate is huge and loves to be involved in the thick of it.

Steve Matai

If Steve Matai isn’t out this weekend with a shoulder injury, you can be sure he’d be close to being out via suspension. Matai’s shots are usually reckless rather than dirty, and when a centre looks at the opposition team sheet before a game, the last name you’d want to see is S.  Matai. Manly’s enforcer for the last decade, Matai has pulled off some of the biggest hits in that time.

Beau Scott

Scott rose through the ranks virtually unheard of at Cronulla, but his emergence in the Wayne Bennet led Dragons in 2009 saw him become a State of Origin first pick, and a player the Blues relied upon for a toughness and force against the sublime Maroons. He taken it to Johnathan Thurston at club and origin level and in recent times had the entire Cowboys side wanting retribution on him.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

The Kiwi-enforcer is a plain rough-nut who loves the battle in the middle of the park. When a challenge comes his way, Hargreaves takes it head on and nothing is better than seeing him engaged in a full-game clash with another prop. He takes as many cheap shots as he gives out, and you could never say he can’t take what he gives.

Isaac Luke

Isaac Luke once ran a cannonball tackle at his own cousin Rangi Chase who was playing for England while the fired-up Luke had the Kiwi-fern over his heart. The spiteful tackle almost broke Chase’s leg and Luke was suspended for weeks. Just last year Luke had to sit out the Grand Final due to suspension and missed playing a part in South Sydney’s long awaited victory. He sure gives it out but Luke puts his body on the line in every game and gets up and walks away even after the hardest of hits, the type that knock you out.

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!