Has there ever been a day where a Coach getting sacked is hardly talked about? I didnt think I would see it but here we are.
The new NRL Television deal was announced today and from a fans point of view I think they have come up a bit short. They have paid a billion dollars for virtually the same deal they used to pay half for. The Fox Sports coverage will be improved so some of the money spent is justified in that respect.
Delayed matches was the biggest issue from the punters point of view. In a day where Social Media (Twitter, Facebook) will tell you the result rather than sit through all the commercials, surely this would effect Channel Nine's ratings. There are those idiots who still tweet NRL clubs saying 'dont give away the results, we want to watch the game on replay'. My answer to those clowns is to get off social media sites, clubs have a duty to keep their fans informed and give them updates as they come to hand.
David Gyngell argued at the announcement that they lose money with live games so they need advertising hence they delayed telecast of friday night and sunday arvo games. I understand where he is coming from, afterall he is paying to have the games aired on his network. But this is 2012 and I would have thought there would be a way to have all games live. In the future we could possibly look at how the AFL run their coverage and even sports from the United States.
It really seems appropriate that Ben Hornby announced his retirement 2 weeks before he will play his last game. For the past 12 years he has been the games quiet achiever and when you mention St George-Illawarra, Ben Horby's name is associated with the red V instantly. He has played every season there except their inaugral campaign in 1999. Represented NSW and Australia, captained the Dragons to their first Premiership as a joint venture and is now the most capped St George player of all time. Its an outstanding resume.
Laurie Daley was also appointed coach of NSW for the next two years. For me this is a bit of a gamble. Daley has had success coaching Country Origin and the Indigenous All Stars. Daley also captained NSW and thrived on the big stage of State of Origin. He has huge boots to fill after Ricky Stuart has turned NSW into a team capable of winning a series.
We must also remember Daley was a selector from 2002-2010 where he and Bob McCarthy were heavily criticised after losing five straight series for not 'picking and sticking'. You can also argue that NSW didnt have the cattle available during that time to defeat QLD but I think this is irrelevent. Players are held responsible for their performances, they are given a chance to perform and show what they can do. These guys are professionals, they should be able to perform night in, night out. If the Mail man missed half of his mail run he would get the sack. You get where I am going with this. Selectors shouldn't be held accountable for players performances.
If surrounded by the right team of Coaches and staff, I think Daley can succeed in his new job.
And Brian McLennan was sacked this morning from the Warriors Head Coaching role. Fair enough too, how can a team go from Grand Finallists and future 'powerhouse' of the game to a side that gives up leads and gets flogged most weeks. Its not all his fault but the buck does stop with him.
Will hiring Steven Kearney get the Warriors going again? You would have to say no, he won nine games with Parramatta over 2 seasons and got the sack. Im worried they are going backwards.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Finals Race
The top 8 is done and dusted. Where they will all finish is all that needs to be decided. Yes I do realise that Canberra and Newcastle both have a chance to stay in the hunt within striking distance but I cant see them sneaking into 8th position.
Canberra should win today against Penrith but stranger things have happened, especially with the Green Machine. Supporting this mob is great fodder for a heart attack and their form line represents the Manhattan skyline, up and down.That being said I still make sure I watch the Raiders play every week because when it sticks there isn't many sides better to watch. If they had Terry Campese for a full season this year I think they would be a top 8 side. A big concern for them in the future is that Coach David Furner had to take his team out of the ACT the night before their victory against Brisbane and treat it like an away game. Canberra Stadium used to be the most feared road trip in the NRL. I have seen many good sides travel to the nations capital and lose by a big margin. I have also seen the Raiders side that couldn't win away from Canberra if you put it on a silver platter for them.
Its been the problem for the past couple of season and we keep hearing the excuse "we are a young side". That has to stop in the next few weeks for them to have any hope for making the 8 and if they want to play regular September football in years to come.
My boys, the mighty Newcastle Knights have been very hard to follow at times this season. It took 19 weeks for them to get used to Wayne Bennett and what he expects from his team. The win against Manly showed what they are capable of when they play the top sides. Its easy to say with the benefit of hindsight but I actually left the Knights out of my top 8 at the start of this season. Their club culture is built on being the underdog and the transition to being the 'biggest dog in the yard' was always going to take longer than one pre-season. They will miss the eight this year but their should be some good times to come. Tyrone Roberts has emerged as a player of great promise and taken a lot of pressure off Jarrod Mullen, who has also been really good in the back half of the year especially with his kicking game. Akuila Uate being dropped from Origin has been the best thing to happen to him in his short career and he looks hungry. The big key going forward is Darius Boyd beginning to look comfortable with his new team. Boyd and Mullen played as the five-eighth and fullback in the 2005 Australian schoolboys team 7 years ago and that old combination is really starting to click.
The Dragons this season, to put it simply, have been poor. 2012 was gone for them quite some time ago even though they were only put to bed last night by the Tigers. The pre-season for 2013 will be a massive test for Steve Price and his coaching staff. Defensively there isn't too much to worry about but their attack is weak. The experts will tell you defence wins you games but scoring a few try's won't harm your chances either. It could well be a case for re-inventing the wheel for St George as they have looked stale and flat for a major chunk of the season. Apart from Brett Morris out wide they don't have much strike power and with some spare money under the cap they could really use a quality centre with Matt Cooper certain to move on after 2013. Some tough times ahead for the 2010 premiers.
I am starting to get that feel for the Tigers and I hope I'm not let down. Last's night performance was just what the doctor ordered. Forcing 5 line drop outs and completing 34/40 sets in cyclonic conditions is 'winning' football. They were forced into playing that style but they will hopefully see the benefits in the coming weeks. Friday night against the Bulldogs shapes as a game of the year contender. Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah have been at their best in their last 2 games. The signs are there for one of those late season runs from the Wests Tigers. Their biggest obstacle is the Wests Tigers.
The Finals series gets better every year and this season will be no different.
After watching Friday nights game, Manly have convinced me they are capable of going back to back. It could well be the Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs playing off on the first weekend in October. It would be the most heavily saturated all Sydney Grand final in terms of media coverage for years, possibly ever.
Canberra should win today against Penrith but stranger things have happened, especially with the Green Machine. Supporting this mob is great fodder for a heart attack and their form line represents the Manhattan skyline, up and down.That being said I still make sure I watch the Raiders play every week because when it sticks there isn't many sides better to watch. If they had Terry Campese for a full season this year I think they would be a top 8 side. A big concern for them in the future is that Coach David Furner had to take his team out of the ACT the night before their victory against Brisbane and treat it like an away game. Canberra Stadium used to be the most feared road trip in the NRL. I have seen many good sides travel to the nations capital and lose by a big margin. I have also seen the Raiders side that couldn't win away from Canberra if you put it on a silver platter for them.
Its been the problem for the past couple of season and we keep hearing the excuse "we are a young side". That has to stop in the next few weeks for them to have any hope for making the 8 and if they want to play regular September football in years to come.
My boys, the mighty Newcastle Knights have been very hard to follow at times this season. It took 19 weeks for them to get used to Wayne Bennett and what he expects from his team. The win against Manly showed what they are capable of when they play the top sides. Its easy to say with the benefit of hindsight but I actually left the Knights out of my top 8 at the start of this season. Their club culture is built on being the underdog and the transition to being the 'biggest dog in the yard' was always going to take longer than one pre-season. They will miss the eight this year but their should be some good times to come. Tyrone Roberts has emerged as a player of great promise and taken a lot of pressure off Jarrod Mullen, who has also been really good in the back half of the year especially with his kicking game. Akuila Uate being dropped from Origin has been the best thing to happen to him in his short career and he looks hungry. The big key going forward is Darius Boyd beginning to look comfortable with his new team. Boyd and Mullen played as the five-eighth and fullback in the 2005 Australian schoolboys team 7 years ago and that old combination is really starting to click.
The Dragons this season, to put it simply, have been poor. 2012 was gone for them quite some time ago even though they were only put to bed last night by the Tigers. The pre-season for 2013 will be a massive test for Steve Price and his coaching staff. Defensively there isn't too much to worry about but their attack is weak. The experts will tell you defence wins you games but scoring a few try's won't harm your chances either. It could well be a case for re-inventing the wheel for St George as they have looked stale and flat for a major chunk of the season. Apart from Brett Morris out wide they don't have much strike power and with some spare money under the cap they could really use a quality centre with Matt Cooper certain to move on after 2013. Some tough times ahead for the 2010 premiers.
I am starting to get that feel for the Tigers and I hope I'm not let down. Last's night performance was just what the doctor ordered. Forcing 5 line drop outs and completing 34/40 sets in cyclonic conditions is 'winning' football. They were forced into playing that style but they will hopefully see the benefits in the coming weeks. Friday night against the Bulldogs shapes as a game of the year contender. Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah have been at their best in their last 2 games. The signs are there for one of those late season runs from the Wests Tigers. Their biggest obstacle is the Wests Tigers.
The Finals series gets better every year and this season will be no different.
After watching Friday nights game, Manly have convinced me they are capable of going back to back. It could well be the Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs playing off on the first weekend in October. It would be the most heavily saturated all Sydney Grand final in terms of media coverage for years, possibly ever.
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