It’s been an interesting week in sport that
has just passed. There are/were to
be congratulations, commiserations and consternation at what has happened.
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| Dave Taylor (background) flicking the bird to the NSW players. |
Firstly to the congratulations. What a series this years State of
Origin was. All three matches were as tight as ever and all three seemed to
have an added sense of physicality compared to passed years as well. Perhaps due to the New South Welshman
actually believing they had a shot this year. Again the Queenslanders got it done when it counted and won
with a dropped goal with only a few minutes left in the final match, thanks to
Cooper Cronk. Nate Myles was a
questionable Man of the Series, an award that probably should have gone to
Jonathan Thurston, but there’s some of that consternation creeping in. Pleasing to see also, was the passion
that the players in the extended squad had for the game as well. Big Dave Taylor was caught on camera
flicking the bird to the Cockroaches after the final hooter. He has since been sanctioned for doing
so, even though he was in the crowd.
It seems a bit sad that a player can be sited and punished for doing
something that perhaps more than half the crowd had done at some stage during
the game. How is the crowd to be
punished for their behavior? It’s
all a bit harmless isn’t it? Was
anyone really offended by it?
A massive congrats has to go out to The Fed
Express. He was back and playing
at his most glorious best. What a
site he was in the midst of breaking down that filthy ginger, whinging, Scots
Man. How desperate are England
for a hero? He's the great British hope when he's winning, then, as soon as he loses he's back to being a Scot. FYI he’s not from your country and weather you like it or not the term
Great Britain is so outdated it’s not funny. He is the epitome of a sore loser, shows little to no
modesty in victory and is like a spoiled child when he loses. Grow up you
wanker! Sorry about the rant. I did find it a bit funny how the roof
wasn’t closed before the match started.
This is the biggest game of the year on grass in the world, the whether
looks unsurprisingly average in London, but hold on, “No no no, let’s leave the
roof open, it might help the sour kid that we are all cheering on”. How’d that work out for you noble
Wimbledon folk? But congratulations Roger, my fingers are crossed you can win
an unbelievable 20 Majors before your time is up.
I must have another whinge about the
Aussies here while I’m on the job as well. Kurtley Beale has been officially charged with assault and
is still allowed to continue to be available to play. How many times must the ‘3 Musketeers’ of he, Quade Cooper
and James O’Connor set a bad example for every other professional sportsman and
child before they are taken aside and given a damn good slapping. As mentioned earlier, Dave Taylor got
sanctioned for pulling the fingers from the crowd, Kurtley Beale is in trouble
with the law for not the first time and nothing happens. You’re a disgrace ARU and the sooner
you grow some balls the better. I
know you’ve got bigger concerns than your current players behavior, but maybe
if you sort your players out know, kids growing up might actually strive to be
in the Wallabies, rather than have their parents looking at them with disgust
and convincing their children to play one of the many other sports that Rugby
competes with in a crowded sporting market. The only people who are going to lose out are yourselves as
everybody switches allegiance to another code once and for all.
How bad does this year get for the Blues? Even with a convincing 32-9 win over
the Force, who were robbed of their two best players in Nathan Sharpe and David
Pocock just before kick off, every player and the coaches must be praying for
the final whistle of the year next weekend. They are so desperate they even bought back Orene Ai’i for
the last couple of games. Ai’i,
I’m unreliably told is turning 63 next month and is still going to be turning
out for the Blues. New Zealand’s
largest player base in Auckland must be cringing at the fact that they can’t
find anybody better to draft into the Blues for a couple of games. Is there seriously that little
talent available? At least they are playing hardball with Rudi Wulf, who wants
to break a contract for a third time in almost as many years. Grow up Mr Wulf, you have made a
commitment to two years in NZ, you have only served one of those. At 28 there is still plenty of time for
you to head away to France again and cash in after next season. The Blues and Auckland Rugby in general
need a total revamp of the Office and Boardroom staff and to review all
structures involved from grassroots rugby for 5 year olds through to Super
Rugby. The question is; Will the
Aussie Rugby Union or Auckland Rugby Union be first to realize they have
massive problems than run right through every orifice of their organisations.
Sonny Bill you coward. Why are you so scared of making a real
commitment to one sport and building your legacy to ensure that you will go
down as a legend? Instead you have
turned yourself into a mercenary of the truest sense. Leave NZ Rugby, take a brief contract in Japan for one
season, throw in a couple of Boxing Bouts and then back to Rugby League, all in
the space of 6 months! Presumably
only for a couple of years though, perhaps include playing in the League World
Cup for the Kiwis and then try and comeback for the All Blacks 2015 defence in
England. Part of me thinks, fair
enough he does only have a limited time in top-level sport and I’m not sure I
wouldn’t chase the money as he does.
But the other half can’t help but think about what talent is being
wasted by a player manager who is driving one year contracts, leaving a trail
of destruction most places they go all the while building the bank balance as
much as possible. Sonny Bill you
are dangerously close to out-marketing yourself. You could be a super star in any sport, but you have to stay
in one for long enough to do so.
The more you chop and change the more you risk that never happening, as
people will begin to resent you for doing so.
Finally, congratulations to Jimmy Cowan on
playing your last game for the Highlanders. You endured many tough years in the deep south but always
stuck it out and dug in. The last
couple of seasons have been more befitting of a player who has given so much
and has always possessed a never say die attitude. Enjoy your time playing overseas, you have deserved it after
completing 10 seasons back home.
That’s all this week team.
As always; Keep your eye on the ball.
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