Thursday, August 29, 2013

'Club. Team. Individual.' - Raelene Castle - By Mary

Last night, the Sports Business Club held an event called "Leaders in Sport: One on One with Raelene Castle'. In the intimate location of 80 Proof in Sydney's CBD, @mary__kaye was lucky enough to be in attendance and shares her experience below.
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It is no secret to anyone who has followed this blog that I have been extremely impressed with Raelene Castle. When she was first appointed as CEO of the Bulldogs earlier in the year, I was so excited that I wrote a blog post all about it. You can check that out here.  
Last night I was lucky enough to attend a Sports Business Club event which featured an interview between Tracey Holmes and Raelene. I thought this blog could be an opportunity to repeat some of the great comments made by this talented woman and make some of my own comments in response.

One of the first questions asked of Raelene was in regard to the intrigue she had in applying for the position at the Bulldogs. It was clear from her response that Raelene has a passion for sport. All you need to do is look at her past. Raelene is a talented and dynamic sports administrator. Prior to taking over from Todd Greenburg at the Canterbury Bulldogs, Raelene was chief executive of Netball New Zealand and had held this role since 2007. In a country like New Zealand, where netball is ascribed just as much importance as Rugby Union and the All Blacks, this was a tremendously important role. This saw her help to establish the Trans-Tasman netball tournament and chair the New Zealand National Sports Organisations' leadership group.
When she was growing up, Raelene says that 'sport was a religion' and that 'NRL was a religion'. This comes as no surprise considering that her father captained the New Zealand rugby league team in 1967 and coached Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer in his junior career.

Hearing Raelene speak about why she applied for the job was inspiring because it is clear she is passionate about sport. When she was appointed, many questioned whether because of her lack of 'NRL experience', she would be able to be successful in the role. I argue that her strong corporate background as well as her heavy involvement in many New Zealand sporting organisations makes her absolutely suitable for the position. When you hear Raelene make comments like 'I have a passion and belief that sport can make a difference', you know the Bulldogs have made an informed decision.
When told about her appointment, Des Hasler's response was 'was she the best person for the job? Yes? Then why are you talking to me for?' If it's good enough for Des, it should certainly be good enough for the rest of us.

The part of Raelene's interview which I found the most interesting were her comments in regard to player welfare. Fresh from the news that Ben Barba will be leaving the Bulldogs mid contract to take a position with the Brisbane Broncos, Raelene made a comment that 'professional athletes live in a false world'. This is absolutely true. In an environment where players are often working towards their eventual goal of playing for a club, the process starts at a young age through their involvement with trainers and managers. Throughout their time as sportsmen, these gentlemen are told what to eat, how to train, when to train and depend on their coach, their trainers and importantly their managers to make decisions for them. This often means that, amongst other things, players do not really understand their obligations under a contract. This is reflected in a number of issues the NRL have had over the last couple of years with players walking out mid-contract.
Raelene suggested that the NRL needs to start taking 'responsibility for growing our athletes'. This is something I find really important. In a sporting environment where winning almost always seems to be the number one priority, to see Raelene wanting to focus on player responsibility and nurturing our players so they are commercially aware individuals was refreshing to hear.

Part of the interview also touched on the tension between winning and making commercial decisions. The Canterbury Bulldogs are a 23 million dollar business. Raelene emphasised that commercial decisions involve more than just ensuring that the football team is winning on the park. Further, as a chief executive, her role is not to make decisions about team selection or tactics. Her role is to ensure that the best people are employed to manage the football side of things while focusing on the financials and the governance of her club. It is when this is forgotten that clubs begin to have corporate governance issues which almost always leads to poor performances on the field.  
Often 'rules go out the window when it comes to winning'. I feel this statement resonates with a lot of supporters at the moment, particularly when we see the way that many teams are being governed. Raelene talked about the importance of fans and members and urged clubs to be honest. When something is not going right, clubs need to be brave and address this up front. Fans need to be '[taken] on the journey with the club.' Members and fans need to be recognised and valued for the very important contribution they make to their clubs. When people are so invested in an entity that they cannot control, openness and honesty (to the best extent possible) is a refreshing approach to take.

My favourite Raelene Castle-ism from the night was this one - 'club, team, individual.' This statement informs the way the Canterbury Bulldogs make decisions and their priorities. The Bulldogs have transformed over the last couple of seasons and I would now argue can truly be called 'a family club.' This is partly through their focus on the Club and ensuring that people who come to play for the Bulldogs fit within the Club ethos. No one individual is bigger than the team and no one individual is bigger than the Club.
I felt so privileged to be able to hear Raelene speak tonight. As a woman who is passionate about sport it is inspiring to see Raelene working towards making the NRL better. She has plenty of ideas and is already making positive contributions to our game. I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes during her time at the Bulldogs.

Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Celebrating the Burgess Brothers - By Mary

Am I the only one excited about this Friday night's clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Wests Tigers this Friday night at Allianz Stadium?

While this is not a top of the table clash and will have absolutely no bearing on whether the Tigers will be playing Finals football, it is a celebration for the Rabbitohs who for the first time will see all four Burgess brothers playing football together, for the same team. Playing for the Bunnies is a far call from where the brothers grew up in Dewsbury in the north of England. It is also a celebration for one of the NRL'S jewels, Benji Marshall as he plays his 200th game.
Team list Tuesday saw all four Burgess brothers named in the squad to take on the Wests Tigers this Friday night. Sam and Luke are named in the starting line up with the twins George and Tom to come off the bench.

This milestone could have come much sooner. The four brothers have all been at the club since the beginning of the year but Luke has spent a lot of time on the sidelines as a result of injury. Luke returned from injury, but then it was Sam spending time on the sidelines as a result of his conduct during the Bunnies clash against the Storm. Sam faced a grade one contrary conduct charge after the 'squirrel grip' incident. While this normally would only see Sam having missed one game, Sam's history at the judiciary meant that he sat on the sidelines for 2 games.  
When the Burgess brothers take the field on Friday night, they will become the first four brothers to play for the same team in the NRL in over a century, the last being Annandale's Roy, Ray, Rex and Bernard Norman in 1910. This is something to celebrate.

Having the four Burgess brothers in the same team means that Souths will be taking an extremely large forward pack into the clash with each brother weighing over 110 kilograms. Size does not just feature in the Bunnies forward pack. In the backline, John Sutton and Greg Inglis both weigh in at 105 kilograms.
While having the four Burgess brothers play together will certainly be a boost for the Rabbitohs, this game is also important because wins for the Bunnies in their last two games could seal them the Minor Premiership following the Roosters defeat on Monday night.

I have no doubt that South fans will give the boys a massive cheer on Friday night, but I'm sure the biggest cheer of all will come from their mum Julie as she watches all four of her boys play together. It certainly will be a day for the record books.
Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Members week at the Parramatta Eels - By Mary

This week is #membersweek at the Parramatta Eels. While it has certainly been a tough year, it is nice to see the Club making an effort to celebrate those people that keep it going.

I was lucky enough to be asked to write an article for the Eels website on why I love being an Eels member. It was featured here. I thought I might republish it here, just so I can share the love a little bit more.

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As we celebrate Member Appreciation Round this week we're bringing you a series of articles written by our members about why they love being part of the Blue and Gold Army! From the friends they make, to being part of our great football team - all the reasons why they love being a member.

Read today's member article, written by Mary - who is one of our most active followers on Twitter.

1998 was a very special year in Rugby League.

It was the first year of the new inaugural NRL competition following the Super League wars of the mid 1990s, 'Tubthumping' by Chumbawumba accompanied every match as the official song of the NRL, Nathan Hindmarsh made his first grade debut for the Parramatta Eels against the Adelaide Rams in Parkes and I started what was to become a life-long love affair with the Parramatta Eels.
I was 9 years old.

Over the years, the Parramatta Eels have become one of my greatest loves in life.

I have watched them through times of tremendous sadness, like the 1998 Grand Final Qualifier, where the Bulldogs came back from 18-2 with 10 minutes to go to take the remaining Grand Final position from our hands. I watched them in 2001 when we were undoubtedly the best team in the competition, but were pipped by a red hot and Andrew Johns inspired Newcastle team. I watched in 2005 as rookies like Tim and Ben Smith led our side to an inspirational finals run, only to be knocked out by the Cowboys and be denied yet again.

Despite the heartbreak and the fact that we have not won a grand final in my lifetime, the Eels have also brought me tremendous joy. The 2009 grand final run is something which instantly comes to mind. The way the team came together; our bedazzling attack, the euphoria in Parramatta during those weeks and the commitment our boys showed, despite losing to an illegal team, is something I hold very dear to my heart.

I love to win as much as the next footy fan, but the reason I support the Eels both as a fan and through my membership has nothing to do with premiership success. I love the Eels because they truly are a group of genuinely nice guys.

The Parramatta Eels, throughout my years as a supporter, have always been a team which, on the whole, have promoted Rugby League in a positive manner and been ambassadors for the game which I truly love. Men that come to mind instantly are champions like Luke Burt, Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless. In our current squad, I am so proud of players like Tim Mannah, Nathan Smith, Matt Keating, Ryan Morgan, Mitchell Allgood and Ben Smith. The contribution these men have made to not just the Eels, but to the community throughout their NRL careers is immeasurable.

It is these contributions that make each year I have supported the Eels special. I know that it has been a couple of difficult years - but when I go and cheer my team on each and every week, I really do look at them with pride and could not be happier to call them my team.

While winning is important, to have a team that I can be proud of is most important of all.

This is why I could not be prouder to call myself a Parramatta Eels supporter and more importantly, a Parramatta Eels member. I decided to become a member in 2009 and have never looked back. I value financially supporting the club and being able to have a say in how my club is run and administered.

More than anything else though I love to feel part of the Parramatta Eels family and to be able to call myself a Parramatta Eel for life.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Losing is a disease - by Mary

I have now had a chance to stop, cry, reflect (and then cry some more) in regard to the Melbourne Storm's hammering of the Parramatta Eels yesterday. The Storm beat the Eels by a staggering 60 points, leaving the Eels dwindling at the bottom of the competition table.

By now, frequent readers of this site will know that I am a massive Parramatta Eels fan. Over the last two months I have written a number of blogs about the team including one considering the pertinent question of 'what's the matter Parramatta', wondering 'when not good enough is just not good enough anymore' and considering the removal of Ken Edwards. There have been others which you can check out in our blog history.
Throughout my time as a Parramatta Eels supporter and more widely as an NRL supporter, I have always felt that winning was not the most important thing to me. I have always wanted a team I can be proud of and one which represents not only my Club, but the NRL Community in a positive way. That's why, as a Parramatta supporter, despite the disappointment of the last few years, I have still been able to call myself a Parramatta supporter with pride.

However, after yesterday's performance it got me thinking about how much losing is affecting not only the team, but the Parramatta Eels as a whole.
I have written throughout the course of the season about the many problems which seem to be crippling Parramatta and as a result, ensuring that Parramatta have not been close to the top 8, since we led the competition at the conclusion of Round 1.

These have included coaching with the latest rumour being that Ricky Stuart has been made an offer he cannot refuse by the Raiders and that he will be departing the Eels within 2 weeks to replace the recently sacked David Furner. Over the past 4 years I have argued that because Parramatta has changed coaches so many times, we have been unable to get any sense of stability in regard to our on field performance. Whenever a new coach comes in they have new ideas in relation to tactics, in relation to player recruitment and in relation to the strategic direction of the Club. As a result of Parramatta having so many changes in coaches, we have been particularly unstable. But, would winning change all this? I think the answer is yes. Winning would probably have meant Daniel Anderson and Stephen Kearney had kept their jobs. Winning probably would have meant that Parramatta hadn't had 3 coaches in the last 5 years. Losing has put tremendous pressure on our coaching staff and has ultimately contributed to their removal.
Would winning help in regard to members frustrations? Throughout the year I have heard many complaints in regard to the way Parramatta treats its members. While there has been improvement, there is still plenty of work to be done. My question is, if Parramatta were winning would Parramatta members care less about the content of their membership packs, that their membership packs were sent out late, that the weren't receiving enough communication from the club etc etc.

Would winning meant that Parramatta wasn't so unstable at a board level too. As we all know the two clubs that are reported to have had the most difficulty at a board level this year are the Parramatta Eels and the Wests Tigers. It is no surprise that these two are the clubs languishing at the bottom of the table. Would winning have meant less pressure on Roy Spagnolo and 3P? Would winning have meant that Stephen Sharp and Roy Spagnolo could behave more amiably towards each other? Would winning mean that we could have possibly had a united board?
Finally, how important is winning to our members? While, I will continue to renew my membership no matter what the results are, would Parramatta's members base have been further improved if we actually started to win some games? Would we be having less issues in regard to sponsorship?

What frightens me a little bit about the Eels is that despite our ridiculously poor performances on the field over the last couple of years, we still have an extremely strong membership base (over 17,000). An upgrade for Parramatta Stadium was announced earlier this year. The Western Sydney Wanderers undoubtedly contributed to this, but for a club so dramatically underperforming, the government is still paying attention to us. The prospects for a winning and successful Parramatta terrify me.
It then very much becomes a chicken and the egg scenario. Do all the above factors need to be sorted out before Parramatta start winning games (the idea that a fish rots from its head) or will other aspects of the Club begin to improve once the boys start winning on field again.

I would love to hear your thoughts.
Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Keep Calm and Support Your Team - By Mary

My goodness it is difficult being a football fan sometimes.

This afternoon, I sat in front of my television, with slightly glazed and teary eyes, watching my beloved Parramatta Eels lose 64-4 to Melbourne.

I would by lying if I said that I am feeling anything but shattered as I write this blog.

As you all know I absolutely love the Parramatta Eels. There are no words for how I feel about my team - the excitement when they are doing well, the disappointment and the heartache when they are going through tough times and pride, always.

I have blogged many times this season that I have found my interest in the NRL wavering. However, this afternoon, I watched my team play with far more interest than I have in a couple of weeks. This afternoon, I truly felt for my team. It was shattering to see the look on Tim Mannah's face when Billy the Kid went over for another try. It was horrible to see the look on Ryan Morgan's face when Melbourne scored again to take the score line up past 50. Its clear that my boys are doing it really tough at the moment.

Over the years I have learnt however, that the best thing I can do is stop and say, I am a Parramatta supporter. I am a Parramatta supporter through the good times and the bad times. The bad times make the good times absolutely and ridiculously amazing. It is just unfortunate that the Eels have had to hit rock bottom for a second year in a row, hopefully before turning a corner and improving next year.

I love my team and will continue to support them, no matter how difficult it gets. I promise.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Rebecca Wilson v The Marshall's - By Hayley

Today, Rebecca Wilson did an opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph. Although I don't like to read Daily Telegraph articles anymore, someone made a comment on twitter which caught my eye so I decided to read it.

For those who haven't read the article, Rebecca gives her thoughts on the Benji Marshall saga. My first thought when reading the article was "wow, what a bitch". The attack Rebecca Wilson launched on Benji Marshall's wife, Zoe was uncalled for and just outright bitchy. There was no need for it. She is pretty much implying that Zoe Marshall has used her last name to launch her status. Zoe Marshall was already doing presenting gigs prior to meeting Benji. After making comments about how Zoe's column in the Daily Telegraph is the most read in the newspaper, it sounds like someone is a little jealous!

Rebecca then goes on to give her opinion on Benji Marshall. Her thoughts on Benji Marshall make what she said about Zoe look kind and caring. I'm not sure whether Rebecca Wilson is a disgruntled Tigers supporter or just a plain bitch, either way harsh comments like hers are not needed.

I thought I might take this opportunity to give my thoughts on the Benji Marshall Saga.

I think the whole thing has been handled terribly. Do I blame Benji? No, I don't. I blame his manager. Although Benji needs to take responsibility for his actions, I think he's been given bad advice. What player manager gets a handshake agreement on a players future? Having everything in writing is the number 1 rule when it comes to contracts. In trying to stop the Tigers going back on their 'handshake agreement', Marshall's manager had the whole drama play out in the media. He used the media to try and force the Tigers to agree to the terms they wanted. This made Benji look bad

We don't know whether there was a handshake agreement or whether Martin Tauber, Benji's manager, is lying to him. What we do know is that the only losers in this situation are Benji Marshall and the Tigers fans. It didn't need to get this messy.

I agree that Benji's on field form hasn't been great of late and I've never been a huge Benji fan, however I do think Benji should be given the opportunity to leave the NRL with dignity. I was outraged when Luke Burt was dropped to Wenty in his last year at Parramatta. There's just some players who have given so much to the great game and should get the same in return. I truly hope the Tigers fans don't boo him off the field in his last game.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Friday, August 23, 2013

The Gambling Culture Within the NRL - By Hayley

Last night the lovely Mary put to twitter; "On a scale of 1 to 10, how much does Tom Waterhouse bother you?". As I was typing my response I thought I need more than just 140 characters for this. So I have decided to write a post about it.

My response to Mary was "100". Although he blinks at an alarmingly high rate which annoys me, it's not Tom Waterhouse the person that annoys me too much; it's what he stands for & what he's fooling people into doing. I have the same feeling for the Glenn Munsie's & the Jamie Rogers of the world, it's not them; it's the company they're advertising.

I just can't get past that these companies are making billions off other people's misfortunes. It's estimated that the social cost to the community is $4.7 billion a year. $4.7 BILLION! It ruins families, friendships. It ruins lives. The stats show that up to 500,000 Australians are at risk of becoming, or are, problem gamblers. Not only is it a huge issue in Australia, but it's a huge issue in the NRL. It's part of the culture of the game, not only for players but for fans.

On one hand we have Nathan Hindmarsh sending a message urging others to get help with their problem gambling & on the other hand we have betting companies throwing it in our face right throughout a football game.

If gambling can only be done by 18+ then why is there advertising at a 7:30pm time slot on tv, or 5:30pm in the case of Fox Sports. I understand that the NRL do not have control over this but I would like to see them take some control over it in the next tv rights deal. It's about time we started putting people's welfare in front of money.

Not only is it bad to have it shoved in problem gamblers face but kids are growing up knowing way too much about gambling. I'm 26 & I don't know how to start a pokie, I might be able to walk into a tab & fluke putting a bet on but I still don't really know what I'm doing. These kids probably know more than me & it's ridiculous. I've never been a big gambler, I only ever placed bets on the Melbourne Cup & the occasional first try scorer at Parramatta games. Now however, I don't gamble at all as I have seen what gambling can do to a family.

Let's hope the NRL use Chris Sandow as an example in a positive way to help the community and show them that it's ok to ask for help but it's not ok to gamble out of your means.

Only 15% of problem gamblers get help. If you or you suspect someone you know has an issue with problem gambling head to http://www.problemgambling.gov.au/ to get some information on where to start to get help.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

*statistics in this post were sourced from http://www.problemgambling.gov.au/

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Sharkies, sharkies, sharkis, oh boy oh boy oh boy.... - By Mary

What is going on at the Cronulla Sharks?

Happy Friday to everyone. @LadiesWhoLeague can certainly be accused of not having covered what has probably been the biggest talking point of the NRL season this year - the Cronulla Sharks.
I must admit that this is a topic I have been avoiding because the Sharks have always been a team I have had a soft spot for. This is partly because so many Parramatta players move to Cronulla. Players like Jeff Robson and Josh Morris have left Parramatta to go to the Sharks and have found very happy homes, so I have found the happenings of this season very troubling.
I found it especially troubling because despite the problems the Sharks have had in relation to financial instability and lack of Premiership success, 2013 looked like it would be different. The long awaited $300 million development program that was going to assist the Club financially was about to begin. On the field, the team had never looked stronger, with new recruits Beau Ryan, Luke Lewis and Chris Heighnington joining a team which already fielded talent like Paul Gallen, Jeff Robson and Todd Carney. It looked like the Sharks had turned a corner.

However, this quickly changed with the Australian Crime Commission's report on the use of banned substances in the NRL. Cronulla was named as one of 6 clubs to be mentioned in the report. Following this came rumours that 14 Cronulla Sharks players could be suspended by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) based on a period in 2011 when Stephen Dank was employed by the Club.
Dank was the key figure involved at the Essendon Football Club, instituting a supplement program which has now seen James Hird, Mark Thompson, Danny Corcoran and Bruce Reid facing charges. These charges relate to engaging in practices that have exposed the players to risks to their health as well as using substances which are banned by the AFL Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code.
The season began in absolute turmoil, with Shane Flanagan being stood down before the opening game of the season with his players and the Cronulla fans rallying around him. Another four senior staff members were also sacked.
Unfortunately, the resolution of this matter has not come quickly.
In the interim, the Sharks have seen Damian Irvine quit as Cronulla NRL club chairman amid the anti-doping investigation, Shane Flanagan reinstated to the Cronulla coaching box at the end of March, Steve Noyce being installed as General Manager of Football, debate between the Sharks and ASADA in relation to how much information players are required to divulge following the failed interview between Wage Graham and ASADA, ASADA announcing it had suspended further interviews with Cronulla Sharks players, Glenn Coleman quitting as Sharks chairman and then there was quiet… until July when the NRL stepped in to ensure that there was co-operation between players and ASADA investigators, with threatened sanctions for anyone not giving reasonable assistance. Bruno Cullen then stepped down as CEO with Steve Noyce replacing him all amidst the belief that interviews had started between ASADA and the players again.
It is now looking increasingly likely that similar to Essendon, the Sharks will end up in court.
What a tragic season for the Sharks.
Now to where I stand on this.
Firstly, I am disappointed in how long this investigation has dragged on for. The longer this continues, the greater the damage to Australian sport, the greater the damage to the NRL brand and the greater the damage to the Sharks. The longer this investigation goes for, the more likely it is that the ramifications of any findings will continue well past the 2013 season.
I feel for Sharks fans tremendously.  Over the years Sharks fans have been tremendously loyal and their Club is one which has proven, time and time again that it will not give up. This is not the first time that the Sharks have been embroiled in a scandal. Names and words like Reni Maitua, Matthew Johns and financial difficulty are not unfamiliar to NRL supporters or to Sharks fans who have been tremendously resilient through what has been another period of instability at their club.
In regard to performance enhancing drugs, if the Sharks players have been injected with banned substances, then they must accept the penalties which are handed to them, even if this involves a two year ban from the sport. While some players will argue that they had no idea what was going on, ignorance cannot be used as an excuse.
These players are professional athletes and must have an understanding and must take control over what is being done to their bodies. While this is difficult, particularly for players who are contracted by a club who then hires professionals to assist them with their training and with ensuring their bodies are in peak, physical condition, ignorance cannot be an excuse. However, those involved at a management and administrative level must also be held accountable, no matter the cost.
I would love to hear your thoughts,
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague

The Road to the Finals - By Sammy

We are delighted to welcome another contributor to our family today, @SaintlySammi - make sure you send her a tweet and let her know what you thought of her story.

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It's 3 weeks to go until the finals, and with my beloved Dragons having more injured players than competition points, I've made the executive decision I need to work out my team to bandwagon.
 
Now, I don't subscribe to this theory of "You can only support ONE team and you may not have any warm and fuzzy feelings towards another team!" because lets face it, if you do that - what fun is rugby league? 
 
In 2009 we boarded the Hayne Trayne/Playne as it blitzed the second half of the season and pulled into ANZ on Grand Final Day. In 2003 we had the fairytale of the Penrith Panthers & the Sydney Roosters. 
 
We all love an underdog and a cause to champion, so below are my completely biased and unobjective musings as I try to work out my finals bandwagon to join.
 
Sydney Roosters 
 
Pros: Short shorts, Sonny Bill Williams arms, Mitchell Pearce's existence,short shorts... ok ok I'll stop being a pervert! How awesome will it be to hear Rabs rattle off the 38928392 names each player has?? 
 
Cons: We can't jolly well want the team who's likely to finish first to be in the Grand Final now, can we? Unstrayan. Has to be a battler!
 
Souths 
 
Pros: Well it's been what 30 odd years since they've been in a GF? So I guess that's nice if they made it... 
 
Cons: EVERYONE will be on the Souths Bandwagon... Pride of the League... Russell Crowe.. The March.. totes too mainstream. #rebel #swag #yolo
 
Storm
 
Pros: The amaze poetry that Cooper Cronk will be inspired to write with a victory. And how cute are Cam Smith's kids!
 
Cons: They're in every single Grand Final... new material plz!
 
Sea Eagles
 
Pros: .... well I do like Keiran Foran, I like to think that one day him and David Shillington will have a TV show where they drive around the countryside and talk about antiques over wine and cheese. Also, Tooves gives good press conference. 
 
Cons: It's Manly. 
 
Bulldogs
 
Pros: When Josh Morris smiles, angels sing. 
 
Cons: The inevitable DJ Yellah skits...
 
Sharks
 
Pros: Triumph over peptide adversity, 46 years and won nothing, and seriously, can't Captain Gallen just win SOMETHING???
 
Cons: I fear a Football God may smite me, a St George Supporter, for considering this route...
 
Knights 
 
Pros: Jeremy Smith, Beau Scott, Darius Boyd, Neville Costigan... have prior Grand Final Experience. In a Red V. With sideline support from Adam Cuthbertson & Alex McKinnon. #JustSayin Plus I do adore Robbie Rochow, Korbin Sims and Jarrod Mullen... oh my god when did I become a Knights supporter???
 
Cons: I live in Newcastle... 
 
Gold Coast 
 
Pros: The most likeable Qld team, would be a great boost for the region if the Titans were in the finals race.
 
Cons: Still angry at Myles for headbutting Gal first in Origin. 
 
Raiders
 
Pros: David Shillington. The greatest theme song in the league.... "Mighty mean, green machine!".
 
Cons: The greatest theme song in the league will never leave our heads. 
 
Broncos
 
Pros: .. uhm... ahh... hmmm... uhhh... well one chap from that team went awesome for my Supercoach?
 
Cons: QLD team. Yes, I am that petty!
 
So I shall now talk to a few Wagon dealers, do a few test drives and see which one I should join! I think the Roosters, Bulldogs & Knights are leading the way.
 
Which bandwagon will you be jumping on this year?
 
Love,
 
@LadiesWhoLeague

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Toovey in Trouble - By @WeLoveLeague

Thanks heaps to our friends @WeLoveLeague for this fabulous blog on Geoff Toovey. Be sure to pop in and say hello to them too: http://www.weloveleague.com/. Their website is fabulous!

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The NRL fined Manly coach Geoff Toovey $10,000 on Monday following his spray of the referees after the Sea Eagles lost to South Sydney in round 23.
The biggest talking point of the extraordinary blow up is not not just what was said or how, but what happened as a result and what it means for coaches.
Toovey was in a foul mood over a number of incidents in the game, particularly enraged by Steve Matai’s try being disallowed due to insufficient evidence for the on field referee’s no try ruling to be overturned.
“Can someone answer me that? [Video ref] said held up but the ball’s on the ground. How can that be held up?,” Toovey said
“That’s ridiculous. There’s got to be an investigation into this, someone’s got to be accountable for this.”
He may have had a point too. The ball was clearly on the ground at some point as Matai slid towards the line through momentum.
Being the game of the round, the referees appointed were of high quality, in officials Henry Perenara and Shayne Hayne yet Toovey questioned the performance of the two.
Coaches are emotional people, this has been seen time and time again by the cameras aimed towards the coaching boxes.
They are also told they must front media conferences following the games and when there, all it takes is a poke in the right spot by the media and a coach will ‘blow-up.’
It makes for great journalism and publicity, but not such a great result for the club, as they are slapped with a hefty fine.
While some comments have to be filtered out, such as ones that question integrity of officialdom, questioning decisions that have been made should not be considered an offense.
The fans do it, and the coaches should be allowed to as well.
It is the only way that the officials are held accountable under the current system, and it is the only way that the press conferences have meaning.
If the emotions aren’t allowed at post match press conferences, we are left with cliché coaches and players, and there is no point.

Grown ups, pick up your game! - By Rahma

Good morning everyone!

Today we welcome a new contributor to the @LadiesWhoLeague family. This is an interesting blog because @mary__kaye has often argued that the NRL needs to take player behaviour far more seriously. This post is the other side of the argument. Here at @LadiesWhoLeague we recognise that everyone has a different opinion and are happy to share a variety of view points. Let us know what you think of @rahmadogs post.

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Probably one of my favourite things about the NRL would be the biffs; during Origin time, especially. I believe it works up the players, it gives them that edge they need to push through the game, which is why I was so angry that the biff got banned after the Paul Gallen punch during Game 1 of Origin this year. Cries of outrage from mothers (and Queensland supporters mainly) were heard every where and for some reason - maybe because I’ve never paid too much attention before - I feel like for the first time, a fight on the field blew up and was turned into a big deal.
 
Again, other things such as the Josh Dugan incident and Blake Ferguson incident had people shouting “think of the children!” And this made me stop and think… Why does every incident or issue with a NRL player get turned around on them and suddenly they’re blacklisted as “bad role models”? This upsets me.
 
Why? Well mainly because, well really, at the end of the day these players are human and honestly, they’re going to stuff up and make their mistakes. Some stupider than others *eyes out Ferguson and Dugan* but really, they’re human; they’re going to do stupid things, costly to their careers sadly enough, but to point your finger and shame them as bad role models? I don’t like that at all. Same with the biffs in the games. Players are going to fight on field (while I don’t support off field fights) and we can’t really stop it. Not really. But sadly we have, and the biffs have been banned and really, the game doesn’t feel the same to me anymore. Sin binning players because of they got a little too passionate just isn’t right. Look what happened during Game 2 when four players got sin binned; it just kind of killed the game, and this was all because people complained too much about the influence this has on children.

Parents need to understand that these football players are not role models, nor is it their job to raise your child. That is yours, as a parent, to teach them what is right and what is wrong. Can they look to these players as inspirations on field with their playing? Yes, most certainly. They can aspire to play like a certain player but when this player does wrong, it is your job to explain to them why is was wrong and why they should NOT do what the player did. Now, I know I’m not a parent, and I understand that it’s really difficult especially trying to explain to your child why a player did not get punished accordingly (for example both Dugan and Ferguson have returned to playing after their incidents) but really you should be sitting your child down and explaining to them that in reality, they will get punished accordingly for fighting or drinking or assaulting someone. In the end of the day, YOU raise your child, YOU are their parent. Not the footy players. They should be learning off you, and YOU should be teaching them. This “role model” label has gotten out of hand, in my opinion.

Your thoughts?
 
Love,
 
@LadiesWhoLeague

A gold star for the NRL! - By Mary

It is tremendous to get a feel good story this week, particularly after Matt Cooper announcing his retirement from Rugby League yesterday.

Today the Rugby League community has cause to celebrate as the 2013 NRL-RLPA Academic Team of the Year was announced. In connection with this, the NRL launched a new strategic partnership with the University of Western Sydney that will give players more opportunity to pursue further study once their footballing careers are over. This new partnership will be the most comprehensive professional athlete education program in Australia.

A big gold star for the NRL.

I have previously made comments about whether our players are paid too much money. You can read that story here. In that piece, I argued that our players are not overpaid, particularly when you consider that the average NRL career is about 52 games. This means that for their careers, players need to maximise their earning potential. Often this means that loyalty is a second consideration and that is why players who stay at one club for the entirity of their career are truly a cause for celebration.

Players need to have options when they finish their careers and need to understand that they will not be able to always depend on their football career and the opportunties created as a result of that career in order to support their families. NRL Chief Operating Officer, Mr Jim Doyle, today said that 'rugby league leads the way in providing further education pathways for professional athletes.' This is something which the NRL can be truly proud of.

For the first time ever, the Academic Team of the Year features a player from each club in fields as diverse as graphic design, financial planning, plumbing, carpentry and sports science. The University of Western Sydney joins a growing community of universities which are part of the NRL'S Graduates of League program, including the University of Wollongong, James Cook University, Griffith University and ACPE.

The aim of the Graduates of League program is to increase university entry, retention and completion rates of elity athletes. The program gives players one on one tuition, at least an hour a week, funded by the NRL, the player's club and the Rugby Leauge Players Association.

If this story doesn't give you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, then the statistics below should:

- 66% of NRL players have completed or are engaged in furhter education;
- the NRL is committed to increasing this number to 84% by 2017; and
- there are not 44 full time welfare and education officers employed throught the NRL, state governing bodies and NRL clubs.

The NRL-RLPA Academic Team of the year gives players the chance to ensure that they can continue to contribute to the community positively once they have finished playing NRL. It gives players the confidence to pursue further study and gives them the resources they need.

To be eligible a player needs to be chosen by the NRL-RLPA Welfare and Education Committee in consultation with NRL Club welfare and education officers. It should be of no surprise that tremendous NRL representatives like Tim Mannah (Bachelor of Sports Science), Daniel Mortimer (Bachelor of Education), Ashley Harrison (Financial Planner) and Dan Hunt (Bachelor of Education) have all be named in the Academic Team of the Year.

This is such a positive story for the NRL. It shows that we are a sport that not only values players for the contribution that they can make on the field, but also is a sport which focuses on what players can do and contribute once they have left the game.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague