It has been a big week
in NRL this week, but probably not because of the standard of NRL being played.
There have been a number of issues that have been talking points this week,
most notably in regard to player behaviour. However, after the weekend there
have been a few other talking points raised.
I thought it might be
timely to have a week in review and make a few comments on the events of the
past week.
Aaron Woods
I was
delighted to see a story about Aaron Woods in the Daily Telegraph today, celebrating
his inclusion in the NSW State of Origin Team. When Woods makes his debut for
the Blues on Wednesday night, he will be the first Leichhardt Junior to
represent the Blues.
There are a couple of clubs in the
NRL who are tremendously good at developing their own Juniors – particularly
the teams based in NRL heartland, ‘Sydney’s Western suburbs’. Being a
Parramatta supporter, I know all too well how difficult it is to keep all these
Juniors, particularly when there are some NRL clubs not as good at developing
Juniors, who poach them.
It’s a real feel good story to see
Woods – a home grown Junior – ready to represent his Club, his District and now
his State on Wednesday night.
This is something which should be
celebrated, especially considering this week has been Juniors Week in the NRL.
For a bit more of that warm and fuzzy feeling
check out this story: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-and-nsw-prop-aaron-woods-a-chip-off-the-old-block/story-fni3fqyo-1226668055632
Ban the Biff?
Another
issue which has been big in the NRL over the last couple of weeks is the stance
on ‘punching on’, especially following Gallen’s actions in State of origin Game
I (more on this in the lead up to Origin).
The NRL has had a serious crackdown
on ‘the biff’ with Daniel Anderson pushing a ban on punching in the NRL. There
is now a rule that any player who throws a punch in a match is automatically
sin binned.
The new stance had its first
challenge last night when a brawl broke out in a clash between the Wests Tigers
and Canberrs in the under-20’s.
Kudos to the NRL for backing their
new policy and taking a strong approach – Wests Tiger Nathan Brown and Raider
Mitchell Barnett was sent off while Tiger Kyle Lovett and Tahakilu Pangai were
sin-binned.
Praise for the NRL Integrity Unit
I also
feel like the new NRL Integrity Unit deserves praise for the way it has handled
some of the drama which has emerged this week. This is the first time the NRL
appears to be taking bad behaviour seriously. It is the NRL saying that we are
not going to tolerate this sort of behaviour anymore. It is the NRL wanting to
protect the game it has worked so hard to create. It is the NRL saying to its
fans that they deserve better.
Jim Doyle leads the Integrity unit
and he is supported by Nick weeks and Alby Taylor. Together they have handed
out $45,000 worth of fines in less than a month.
The swift action taken against
Tamou and Ferguson send a strong message to the rest of the players. I feel
this is a message which needed to be sent and I applaud the hard line being
taken in regard to player behaviour.
Our game is being associated with stupidity and
bad behaviour – hopefully this strong stance signals the end of this.
Eels v Bunnies
Being a
Parramatta supporter, I couldn’t resist saying a few words about today’s clash
between the Eels and the Bunnies. For the Eels we could not have possibly picked a better week
to face the Bunnies with the Bunnies missing a few key players through
suspension and State of Origin.
Parramatta have now lost 4 in a row
and have been unable to keep an opposition below 30 points.
The Eels have been tremendously
inconsistent this year – being unable to put together a complete 80 minute
performance this year.
However, I am hoping for a much improved performance
today and hoping Jacob Loko makes an impact off the bench.
That’s all for this
Sunday wrap – keep your eye on the blog this week for a Parramatta v South
Sydney match report, a book review, a State of Origin Preview and of course,
comments on all the big issues coming out of the NRL in the next week.
Until the next blog –
keep reading, commenting and sharing!
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
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