So with all the innuendo surrounding the Gold Coast Titans' long term future in the game, is the NRL ready to expand into new areas?
Not at this stage in my opinion. By 2015 the League should be looking to have teams based in Perth, another Brisbane side or another side across the Tasman. A second side in Brisbane will be a sure thing one day. The Bronco's currently get about 35, 000 to a home game each week, have a monopoly on talent in South East Queensland. You only need to look at how many Queenslanders are playing in other sides not based in the sunshine state and the dominance at State of Origin level to see that Queensland Rugby League is in a golden period much like that of the late 1980's.
Perth has a big chance to become and NRL entity once more. Games taken over to Perth have been well attended and they have a good junior system in place through the Western Reds academy who play at Harold Matthews and SG Ball level. If the new Commission decides to take a team to Perth it must be done right. Rather than try to take the focus away with outlandish player signings e.g. Israel Folau to GWS, they must continue to produce local Perth based juniors who in 5 or 6 years could be running around for a Perth based franchise. The revenue TV would make with another time zone would be outstanding and is hard to ignore.
Another team in New Zealand also seems a logical fit. You just have to watch their Toyota Cup side play each week to realise that they have a production line of players that the Warriors can't keep under their salary cap. They have a chief financial backer if plans go ahead for this second team and again its a great place TV rights wise.
Greg Florimo and David Fairleigh are busting their boilers to get the Bears back into the competition playing from the Central Coast. David Gallop keeps his cards close to his chest on the subject and I think Central Coast league fans would rather have their own team with its own identity rather than a re-branded North Sydney Bears. It amazes me that a team from the Central Coast hasn't been in the competition for several years.
So with an 18 team competition you split your Sydney based teams with teams from interstate and have to leagues of 9 teams. You play home and away against all those teams in your conference bringing you 16 games plus another 4 games against teams from the opposite conference with home and away games alternating in the following years.
Have a top 4 semi finals series in both conferences. Use the system of a 'major' and 'minor' semi final used in country football. Teams one and two play in the major, winner goes to the conference final while the loser gets a second chance the next week when they play the winner of team three and four in the minor. Week 3 would see the conference final and week 4 would be your so called 'Super Bowl' with both conference winners playing in the Grand Final.
So there is my thoughts on where the competition could be headed and the way I would like to see it done. Let us know what you think.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
NSW Origin Side
In about 3 weeks Ricky Stuart will announce his team that will attempt to break the 6 year strangle hold the maroons have had over their southern rivals. I figured why wait 3 weeks. Here is my Origin if it were named tomorrow.
1. Josh Dugan- Outstanding on debut last year and a great attacking weapon and terrific broken field runner. The logical long term custodian for the Blues.
2. Jarryd Hayne- Get on Youtube and watch this blokes Origin highlights. He picks himself. What he can do on a football field almost no one else can. Thrives under the Origin spotlight.
3. Josh Morris- Back to the same form that saw him picked 3 years ago. Strong as an ox, among the fastest in the game, Morris is a danger anywhere on the field with the ball and a very capable defender.
4. Chris Lawrence- Exactly what you look for in a centre. Big, fast and strong its a wonder he hasnt made his debut already.
5. Aku Uate- The games premiere winger. Say no more.
6. Todd Carney- In a good frame of mind he is deadly in attack. A natural match winner that needs to be in the side. Gallen has been impressed with his work ethic and defence which is as gooder recommendation as you can get.
7. Mitchell Pearce- Incumbent halfback and showed his class for city on the weekend. Breathing down his neck is a much improved Jarrod Mullen and the ever reliable Peter Wallace. His toughness was a major talking point last year and that will be an important factor come selection time.
8. Paul Gallen (C)- No description needed. Best Forward in the world bar none, case closed, full stop.
9. Danny Buderus- A Blues legend who is still the best dummy half available at 34. Ennis playing at about 70% this year and has been half the player. 'Bedsy' is a moral.
10. James Tamou- Probably the toughest decision to make. Has played well this year and in big games you pick big men.
11. Greg Bird- The yang to Gallen's yin. You cant have one without the other. Simple as that.
12. Anthony Watmough- Go and watch a replay of Game 3 2009. The most dominant performance by a forward I can remember in State of Origin.
13 Glenn Stewart- Tireless worker and very classy with ball in hand. Down the right edge he is a handfull to any defence. 2011 Clive Churchill Medallist.
14. Kurt Gidley- The bloke every side needs. Gives a lift when he comes on and can cover almost every position on the field. Such a crucial player for this side.
15 Luke Lewis- Petero Civoniceva has said before the man the Maroons fear most. Can play out wide or in tight and he has a ticker the size of Texas.
16 Tariq Sims- Explosive, dynamic and hard to handle. Sims is the future of this pack. Will probably spend some time as a front rower. He will be required to play major minutes.
17. Trent Merrin- In the last year he has become the best interchange front rower in the game. Makes plenty of metres with ball in hand. Another tough decision but im more than happy to take a gamble on this one.
So there is my first 17. Hard to leave some guys out ie Jennings, Beau Scott etc. Its as simple as this. New South Wales play to their enormous potential and with Paul Gallen leading the charge, NSW are a massive chance to win the shield back.
1. Josh Dugan- Outstanding on debut last year and a great attacking weapon and terrific broken field runner. The logical long term custodian for the Blues.
2. Jarryd Hayne- Get on Youtube and watch this blokes Origin highlights. He picks himself. What he can do on a football field almost no one else can. Thrives under the Origin spotlight.
3. Josh Morris- Back to the same form that saw him picked 3 years ago. Strong as an ox, among the fastest in the game, Morris is a danger anywhere on the field with the ball and a very capable defender.
4. Chris Lawrence- Exactly what you look for in a centre. Big, fast and strong its a wonder he hasnt made his debut already.
5. Aku Uate- The games premiere winger. Say no more.
6. Todd Carney- In a good frame of mind he is deadly in attack. A natural match winner that needs to be in the side. Gallen has been impressed with his work ethic and defence which is as gooder recommendation as you can get.
7. Mitchell Pearce- Incumbent halfback and showed his class for city on the weekend. Breathing down his neck is a much improved Jarrod Mullen and the ever reliable Peter Wallace. His toughness was a major talking point last year and that will be an important factor come selection time.
8. Paul Gallen (C)- No description needed. Best Forward in the world bar none, case closed, full stop.
9. Danny Buderus- A Blues legend who is still the best dummy half available at 34. Ennis playing at about 70% this year and has been half the player. 'Bedsy' is a moral.
10. James Tamou- Probably the toughest decision to make. Has played well this year and in big games you pick big men.
11. Greg Bird- The yang to Gallen's yin. You cant have one without the other. Simple as that.
12. Anthony Watmough- Go and watch a replay of Game 3 2009. The most dominant performance by a forward I can remember in State of Origin.
13 Glenn Stewart- Tireless worker and very classy with ball in hand. Down the right edge he is a handfull to any defence. 2011 Clive Churchill Medallist.
14. Kurt Gidley- The bloke every side needs. Gives a lift when he comes on and can cover almost every position on the field. Such a crucial player for this side.
15 Luke Lewis- Petero Civoniceva has said before the man the Maroons fear most. Can play out wide or in tight and he has a ticker the size of Texas.
16 Tariq Sims- Explosive, dynamic and hard to handle. Sims is the future of this pack. Will probably spend some time as a front rower. He will be required to play major minutes.
17. Trent Merrin- In the last year he has become the best interchange front rower in the game. Makes plenty of metres with ball in hand. Another tough decision but im more than happy to take a gamble on this one.
So there is my first 17. Hard to leave some guys out ie Jennings, Beau Scott etc. Its as simple as this. New South Wales play to their enormous potential and with Paul Gallen leading the charge, NSW are a massive chance to win the shield back.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
League Eligibility A Joke.
Last year around State of Origin time I saw a Facebook group and in a way it summed up the farce that is Rugby League Eligibilty. It read "Define dickhead; Born and bred in New South Wales and I support Queensland". If you think back to the whole Greg Inglis debacle it hits the nail on the head. The current State of Origin rule is you first senior game is the state you are eligible for. Inglis played his first senior match for Hunter Sports High School in Newcastle, New South Wales. Same thing for Israel Folau, funnily enough he went to school Westsfields Sports High School in Sydneys west. Both players move a year later and make it in the Queensland system and suddenly they are claimed by Queenslander. Its not the first time its happened and not the last.
Fast forward to 2012 and we have a similar situation with James Tamou defecting to Australia only 6 months after being in the New Zealand train on squad. Fellow Kiwi's have labelled it bizarre and can't understand it. He is eligible to play for both nations but surely there must be a rule in place to say the first team that you make it for a train on squad or academy etc then thats where your allegiance lies.
Under 20's State of Origin played for the first time this weekend is also a joke. Korbin Sims, younger brother of Tariq (who's allegiance is NSW) was originally picked for Queensland before injury. The rule with this concept that this game has no bearing on what state you are eligible for in the future if you are good enough to make it at senior level. Korbin could well find himself playing for the Blues after being selected for the Maroons as a 20 year old. Can anyone else not see the problem here!
The Commission needs to come together and rule in black and white what the rules are. They seem to be different every year and cater for every situation.
Nathan Fien having a dig at James Tamou was absolutely laughable. In 2001 the Queensland halfback was Nathan Fien. In 2005, the New Zealand Halfback was Nathan Fien. Talk about throwing stones from a glass house.
Brad Thorn came from New Zealand to play for Brisbane. Queensland claim him somehow as do Australia and he plays for both. He switches back to play Union and becomes a folk hero wearing the All Blacks jersey. Tony Carroll played for New Zealand before he somehow is allowed to play for Queensland and Australia.
Steve Rogers was always thought to be a Queenslander but played for NSW, his son Mat playing for the Maroons.
Peter Stirling born in Toowoomba. Billy Moore, Famous for the 'Queenslander' chant was born in Tenterfield. Sam Thaiday was born in Sydney. These are just a few players born outside the state they went on to play for. Where is the rule in black and white.
The word origin means 'the beginnings of someones existence'. Does that not ring alarm bells for the suits and ties who run the game.
For too long the inmates have run the Asylum. Its time it has to me made clear so these incidents don't happen in the future.
Fast forward to 2012 and we have a similar situation with James Tamou defecting to Australia only 6 months after being in the New Zealand train on squad. Fellow Kiwi's have labelled it bizarre and can't understand it. He is eligible to play for both nations but surely there must be a rule in place to say the first team that you make it for a train on squad or academy etc then thats where your allegiance lies.
Under 20's State of Origin played for the first time this weekend is also a joke. Korbin Sims, younger brother of Tariq (who's allegiance is NSW) was originally picked for Queensland before injury. The rule with this concept that this game has no bearing on what state you are eligible for in the future if you are good enough to make it at senior level. Korbin could well find himself playing for the Blues after being selected for the Maroons as a 20 year old. Can anyone else not see the problem here!
The Commission needs to come together and rule in black and white what the rules are. They seem to be different every year and cater for every situation.
Nathan Fien having a dig at James Tamou was absolutely laughable. In 2001 the Queensland halfback was Nathan Fien. In 2005, the New Zealand Halfback was Nathan Fien. Talk about throwing stones from a glass house.
Brad Thorn came from New Zealand to play for Brisbane. Queensland claim him somehow as do Australia and he plays for both. He switches back to play Union and becomes a folk hero wearing the All Blacks jersey. Tony Carroll played for New Zealand before he somehow is allowed to play for Queensland and Australia.
Steve Rogers was always thought to be a Queenslander but played for NSW, his son Mat playing for the Maroons.
Peter Stirling born in Toowoomba. Billy Moore, Famous for the 'Queenslander' chant was born in Tenterfield. Sam Thaiday was born in Sydney. These are just a few players born outside the state they went on to play for. Where is the rule in black and white.
The word origin means 'the beginnings of someones existence'. Does that not ring alarm bells for the suits and ties who run the game.
For too long the inmates have run the Asylum. Its time it has to me made clear so these incidents don't happen in the future.
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