Here we are League fans. One week out from the big dance. The teams have now been decided. Come Sunday the Manly Sea Eagles will do battle with the Sydney Roosters to see who will be crowned victors for year 2013.
Last night I was speaking with my dad and he mentioned the tremendous respect he had for the Roosters and their progress this year. He commented how he never thought he would find himself cheering for players like Mitchell Pearce, Jared Warea-Hargreaves and Sonny Bill Willaims. We had a brief discussion about why this might be the case and my dad kept bringing up the Roosters coach, Trent Robinson and what a tremendous job he has done in turning the Sydney Roosters into a truly professional outfit.
The Roosters have truly been the best team throughout 2013. Their results speak for themselves - particularly the amount of teams they have been able to hold to zero this year (6 to date) and some of the tremendous scorelines they have put on their opponents (I am a Parramatta supporter, I remember their destruction of the Eels earlier this year).
Throughout the season, I have blogged many times on the importance of player behaviour and the need for football players to begin to understand that they are role models (whether they would like to be or not).
I find it no coincidence that the Roosters have continued their fine form throughout September and continued taking a professional approach to the way they conduct themselves off the field, particularly since around August this year, the Roosters put in place a self-imposed alcohol ban.
While in the past, such bans have not worked as intended, with Todd Carney and Nate Myles both being sacked, this time the playing group seems committed to each other and their results are doing the talking.
Alcohol has long been a part of sporting clubs. When you look at all the negative press the NRL has received this year, so much of it comes down to players behaving irresponsibly and so many of these incidents are the direct result of alcohol. I cannot put it down to coincidence that the Roosters have performed so well this week - especially when you consider their position last year, BJ Leilua and Mitchell Pearce were all through the papers and the Roosters were not performing anywhere near the level they are now.
I don't want to write too much about SBW because most NRL fans are sick of hearing about him. The only people that don't appear to be sick of him are Channel 9. For those of you watching the Grand Final this weekend, perhaps we should have a little game to see who can guess the number of promo videos of the man they will have. However, despite all this, from all accounts, he has had an extremely positive impact on the Roosters this year and we are seeing the results.
No longer are the Roosters a club all about talking the talk - now they are walking the walk too. I respect the stance the Roosters have taken this weekend and wish them all the best in their game against Manly this weekend. I only wish more Clubs would model themselves on the stance taken by the Roosters team.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The Sandor Earl Interview - By Hayley
Today I sat down & watched the Sandor Earl interview. Whilst I don't normally like to form an opinion based on only hearing one side of the story, Stephen Dank is MIA during this whole saga which looks dodgy to me.
It's easy to say in hindsight that it was so obvious that the wrong thing was going on. You do need to remember though that we all are getting this information all at once. We have the luxury of being able to recall on our knowledge of what has happened in the past. The story that we have been told happened over a period of time & all of the little things that happened along the way wouldn't have been fresh in Sandor's mind. If you think you're doing the right thing, you wouldn't think too much about it.
Stephen Dank made comments on how Sandor could have ceased treatment at any time. He is an adult & makes his own decisions & could have said no. Of course he could have said no, but why would he? He was told that this was not a banned substance so why would he turn down treatment?
The onus is on the players to check what is being put in their body, and all players will be checking now. However, when this happened back in 2011, there had been no previous cases like this. It's easy for us to say now that Sandor should have checked; well hindsight is a lovely thing. Players trust their coaches, their medical staff & in this case their sports scientist consultants. Especially after they ask the question & are told it's not a banned substance.
The trafficking charge is a bit ridiculous in my opinion. By no means has Sandor supplied other players with drugs & partake in a systematic drug ring. All he did was take the vials to the doctor to be administered. It's the trafficking charge that could see him get a life ban. I really don't think the punishment fits the crime in this case.
Stephen Dank may think he's being used as the scapegoat by the NRL & the AFL but I believe it's Sandor that's the scapegoat. His case is different to the others. He's no longer at the club where this happened. He's not part of a club that's being accused of systematic drug use. He doesn't have a club fighting for him. He is a single person & an easy target.
During the interview on the Footy Show, Karl interviewed Sandor's mother. It's at this stage where it really brings home that Sandor is just a young kid & is only human like the rest of us. He's just a young kid trying to live his dream & it could now all be gone. It makes you realise what type of affect this situation has on the families involved. These players might be professional athletes but as I have said in previous blogs; they're only human just like the rest of us.
It saddened me to hear the affect this situation had on Sandor's final year at Canberra. He didn't want to play any more, he had had enough. This is a young kid who was realising his dream of being a first grade footballer & he no longer wanted to play.
In my opinion based on Sandor's interview, the only thing he is guilty of is being naive & trusting someone he shouldn't have. I truly don't believe he should receive a ban for this. I don't believe he knowingly took a banned substance. Let's hope ASADA & the NRL don't try & make an example of Sandor. I really do hope to see him back in the NRL one day.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
It's easy to say in hindsight that it was so obvious that the wrong thing was going on. You do need to remember though that we all are getting this information all at once. We have the luxury of being able to recall on our knowledge of what has happened in the past. The story that we have been told happened over a period of time & all of the little things that happened along the way wouldn't have been fresh in Sandor's mind. If you think you're doing the right thing, you wouldn't think too much about it.
Stephen Dank made comments on how Sandor could have ceased treatment at any time. He is an adult & makes his own decisions & could have said no. Of course he could have said no, but why would he? He was told that this was not a banned substance so why would he turn down treatment?
The onus is on the players to check what is being put in their body, and all players will be checking now. However, when this happened back in 2011, there had been no previous cases like this. It's easy for us to say now that Sandor should have checked; well hindsight is a lovely thing. Players trust their coaches, their medical staff & in this case their sports scientist consultants. Especially after they ask the question & are told it's not a banned substance.
The trafficking charge is a bit ridiculous in my opinion. By no means has Sandor supplied other players with drugs & partake in a systematic drug ring. All he did was take the vials to the doctor to be administered. It's the trafficking charge that could see him get a life ban. I really don't think the punishment fits the crime in this case.
Stephen Dank may think he's being used as the scapegoat by the NRL & the AFL but I believe it's Sandor that's the scapegoat. His case is different to the others. He's no longer at the club where this happened. He's not part of a club that's being accused of systematic drug use. He doesn't have a club fighting for him. He is a single person & an easy target.
During the interview on the Footy Show, Karl interviewed Sandor's mother. It's at this stage where it really brings home that Sandor is just a young kid & is only human like the rest of us. He's just a young kid trying to live his dream & it could now all be gone. It makes you realise what type of affect this situation has on the families involved. These players might be professional athletes but as I have said in previous blogs; they're only human just like the rest of us.
It saddened me to hear the affect this situation had on Sandor's final year at Canberra. He didn't want to play any more, he had had enough. This is a young kid who was realising his dream of being a first grade footballer & he no longer wanted to play.
In my opinion based on Sandor's interview, the only thing he is guilty of is being naive & trusting someone he shouldn't have. I truly don't believe he should receive a ban for this. I don't believe he knowingly took a banned substance. Let's hope ASADA & the NRL don't try & make an example of Sandor. I really do hope to see him back in the NRL one day.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Thursday, September 26, 2013
2013 - A most remarkable year in sport - By Mary
Last week I was fortunate to attend a Walkley Media Talk called 'Inside Mail: Reporting sport in the era of scandal.' Moderated by Amanda Shalala, the panel was made of a wealth of experience in sports journalism including Alex Brown who is the national head of sport at News Corp Australia and Fox Sports, Steve Mascord who runs a freelance business and often has articles published in the SMH and Rugby League Week and Malcolm Conn, chief cricket writer for the Australian.
In a year where any success on the sporting field has been overshadowed by scandals, like the ASADA investigations both in the AFL and the NRL, soccer match fixing rings and the increased prevalence of sports people behaving badly, this talk focused on whether the nature of sport itself has changed or whether journalists are just becoming better at sniffing out a scandal.
I thought I would make a few brief comments on some of the points discussed.
One of the first issues discussed was in relation to the prevalence of scandals which are now being reported on in the media. The question put to Alex Brown was whether sports journalists had become better at sniffing out a scandal or whether the nature of sport had changed.
Brown suggested that no one is looking for more scandals and suggested that as money has filtered its way into sport, there is greater capacity for corruption.
I think we can look at this in terms of two separate types of incidents we are seeing in sport today.
The first are 'scandals' which relate to a team being given a competitive edge or impacting the way a team performs on the field such as match-fixing and doping. Certainly Brown is correct, as sport has shifted from being amateur, to semi-professional to professional, the stakes are indeed higher. As players are being paid increasing amounts, clubs are being rewarded financially for success and with members demanding success, perhaps there is a greater incentive to cheat because as Brown suggested 'clubs at an institutional level are looking for an advantage.'
The second type of scandals can be placed in a broader category of 'sportspeople behaving badly'. In this situation, I think money is only one factor which has seen an increase in reporting of these incidents. What I think is a greater factor at play is what Malcolm Conn called an 'immediate media scenario' where everyone knows what is going on all the time. There is greater demand for stories as a result of the 24 hour news cycle, so more is being reported. Further, the role of technology and social media means that almost anyone with the ability to take photographs and a sentence to accompany the photo can share 'news'. Via social media this news is disseminated faster than ever before.
I think this suggests that perhaps there aren't any more scandals in sport today, rather there has been a shift in an ability to report on it.
Obviously one of the main talking points of the talk was in relation to the ASADA investigation. I feel that this issue has been discussed to death, but I did want to highlight a comment made by Malcolm Conn in relation to the penalties handed out to Essendon's James Hird. Conn expressed surprise that Hird was able to come back and coach in the AFL after a year, following the severity of the doping issue at Essendon suggesting that if the AFL was serious about the integrity of its sport, the penalty for a mean, the Head of a Football Department which implemented a 'program [which] (had it come to its fruition) would have seen 26,000 injections given to a playing list of 40.' Conn then suggested the implications this would have on parents who had seen their 18 year old sons drafted to Essendon and for fans who generally care about the welfare of their players.
In my mind I absolutely applauded Conn when he made these comments. We as fans often get so caught up in a 'win at all costs mentality', that we forget the importance of issues like the welfare of players. The welfare of our athletes should be the number one priority of our clubs at all times. To allow Hird to come back and coach in the AFL suggests to me, that the tremendous impact he had on the health of the individuals under his care is not being taken seriously enough.
Separately, Steve Mascord raised another sensational point about the role of the media and whether it is to report what people want to know or whether it is to report what people need to know. There is obviously a significant difference between a verbal stoush between Malcolm Conn and match fixing, one is clearly something people want to know about, the other is clearly about what people need to know.
We are living in an era where celebrity news sells. With the proliferation of reality television and the tremendous media coverage athletes receive - people want to know about the personal lives of their sporting heroes. I think we live in a media world where there is an important role for both. What we need to ensure happens, is that there is a continuing role for investigative journalists as well as an increased ability to report on 'celebrity news'.
One final point, when discussing his verbal stoush with David Warner over Twitter, Malcolm Conn said 'the power of Twitter, you cannot underestimate'. I totally agree! So if you read and enjoyed this story, make sure you share it with your friends.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
In a year where any success on the sporting field has been overshadowed by scandals, like the ASADA investigations both in the AFL and the NRL, soccer match fixing rings and the increased prevalence of sports people behaving badly, this talk focused on whether the nature of sport itself has changed or whether journalists are just becoming better at sniffing out a scandal.
I thought I would make a few brief comments on some of the points discussed.
One of the first issues discussed was in relation to the prevalence of scandals which are now being reported on in the media. The question put to Alex Brown was whether sports journalists had become better at sniffing out a scandal or whether the nature of sport had changed.
Brown suggested that no one is looking for more scandals and suggested that as money has filtered its way into sport, there is greater capacity for corruption.
I think we can look at this in terms of two separate types of incidents we are seeing in sport today.
The first are 'scandals' which relate to a team being given a competitive edge or impacting the way a team performs on the field such as match-fixing and doping. Certainly Brown is correct, as sport has shifted from being amateur, to semi-professional to professional, the stakes are indeed higher. As players are being paid increasing amounts, clubs are being rewarded financially for success and with members demanding success, perhaps there is a greater incentive to cheat because as Brown suggested 'clubs at an institutional level are looking for an advantage.'
The second type of scandals can be placed in a broader category of 'sportspeople behaving badly'. In this situation, I think money is only one factor which has seen an increase in reporting of these incidents. What I think is a greater factor at play is what Malcolm Conn called an 'immediate media scenario' where everyone knows what is going on all the time. There is greater demand for stories as a result of the 24 hour news cycle, so more is being reported. Further, the role of technology and social media means that almost anyone with the ability to take photographs and a sentence to accompany the photo can share 'news'. Via social media this news is disseminated faster than ever before.
I think this suggests that perhaps there aren't any more scandals in sport today, rather there has been a shift in an ability to report on it.
Obviously one of the main talking points of the talk was in relation to the ASADA investigation. I feel that this issue has been discussed to death, but I did want to highlight a comment made by Malcolm Conn in relation to the penalties handed out to Essendon's James Hird. Conn expressed surprise that Hird was able to come back and coach in the AFL after a year, following the severity of the doping issue at Essendon suggesting that if the AFL was serious about the integrity of its sport, the penalty for a mean, the Head of a Football Department which implemented a 'program [which] (had it come to its fruition) would have seen 26,000 injections given to a playing list of 40.' Conn then suggested the implications this would have on parents who had seen their 18 year old sons drafted to Essendon and for fans who generally care about the welfare of their players.
In my mind I absolutely applauded Conn when he made these comments. We as fans often get so caught up in a 'win at all costs mentality', that we forget the importance of issues like the welfare of players. The welfare of our athletes should be the number one priority of our clubs at all times. To allow Hird to come back and coach in the AFL suggests to me, that the tremendous impact he had on the health of the individuals under his care is not being taken seriously enough.
Separately, Steve Mascord raised another sensational point about the role of the media and whether it is to report what people want to know or whether it is to report what people need to know. There is obviously a significant difference between a verbal stoush between Malcolm Conn and match fixing, one is clearly something people want to know about, the other is clearly about what people need to know.
We are living in an era where celebrity news sells. With the proliferation of reality television and the tremendous media coverage athletes receive - people want to know about the personal lives of their sporting heroes. I think we live in a media world where there is an important role for both. What we need to ensure happens, is that there is a continuing role for investigative journalists as well as an increased ability to report on 'celebrity news'.
One final point, when discussing his verbal stoush with David Warner over Twitter, Malcolm Conn said 'the power of Twitter, you cannot underestimate'. I totally agree! So if you read and enjoyed this story, make sure you share it with your friends.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Ben is 10/10 - By Sam
One of the nicest guys running around in the NRL today (well he did not do so much ‘running’ around this year) I would have to say is Ben Smith.
I would have to say that over the years I have never seen Ben Smith say ‘no’ to anyone. Always there to sign an autograph, take a photo or stop for a chat. His work in the community and his caring for the fans never ceases to amaze me.
His patience with the fans who wish they were 20 years younger, skinner and better looking (namely me) is endless. He always has time for a hug and always has time for me.
He is one of those type of guys that I would love to continue to be in my life after the game… One I would love to consider a friend. I wish him nothing but the best and will always have a place in my heart for him.
This leads to something that I must write about… It scares me how some fans are about players. For me it is the club… Players come and players go and occasionally you find that player who becomes more of a person than a player (Ben Smith).
Players are people too… People NEED to keep things in prospective! When it comes to player’s personal lives and their problems need to be recognised and treated as that; private & important.
If a player is having problems, Chris Sandow, it impresses me that club I follow and love have put the needs of Chris before the Club. It scares me that supporters out there would rather Chris not deal with his issues and see him running around on the field.
That fans turn up to ‘Mad Monday’ celebrations, intrude on what should be a private day for the players to blow off steam, relive the season and what could have been. Just because people know where these celebrations are taking place doesn’t give fans the permission to turn up! Did the players actually come up to you and invite you… NO so give them the space and freedom to do what they want.
Anyway… This is supposed to be a blog about Ben Smith and how great he is, how he never says no and how compassionate he is towards the fans.
Anyway back to Ben… I love you dearly and really hope that your life holds everything you deserve.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
I would have to say that over the years I have never seen Ben Smith say ‘no’ to anyone. Always there to sign an autograph, take a photo or stop for a chat. His work in the community and his caring for the fans never ceases to amaze me.
His patience with the fans who wish they were 20 years younger, skinner and better looking (namely me) is endless. He always has time for a hug and always has time for me.
He is one of those type of guys that I would love to continue to be in my life after the game… One I would love to consider a friend. I wish him nothing but the best and will always have a place in my heart for him.
This leads to something that I must write about… It scares me how some fans are about players. For me it is the club… Players come and players go and occasionally you find that player who becomes more of a person than a player (Ben Smith).
Players are people too… People NEED to keep things in prospective! When it comes to player’s personal lives and their problems need to be recognised and treated as that; private & important.
If a player is having problems, Chris Sandow, it impresses me that club I follow and love have put the needs of Chris before the Club. It scares me that supporters out there would rather Chris not deal with his issues and see him running around on the field.
That fans turn up to ‘Mad Monday’ celebrations, intrude on what should be a private day for the players to blow off steam, relive the season and what could have been. Just because people know where these celebrations are taking place doesn’t give fans the permission to turn up! Did the players actually come up to you and invite you… NO so give them the space and freedom to do what they want.
Anyway… This is supposed to be a blog about Ben Smith and how great he is, how he never says no and how compassionate he is towards the fans.
Anyway back to Ben… I love you dearly and really hope that your life holds everything you deserve.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Reni, set go! - By Hayley
Last week when Mary told me about her idea for 'Player Appreciation Week' I thought this was a great idea. Mary encouraged all contributors to @LadiesWhoLeague to write a post about their favourite player. My only problem is I have so many favourites. How was I going to choose just one to write about? My list of faves includes Jarryd Hayne, Reni Maitua, Mitchy Allgood, Ryan Morgan & Darcy Lussick. I also consider Dan Morts & Justin Horo to be on my list of faves even though they no longer play for my beloved Eels. The team is such a great group of guys, it's hard to just choose one favourite.
I've already written blogs about Jarryd & Mitch. Morgs & Darcy have long careers ahead of them so there's plenty of time to write about them. That leaves our departing co-captain Reni Maitua. I thought it would only be fitting to write a post about him as he leaves the Eels to go back to where it all started for him, the Bulldogs.
Reni has had a troubled past. Prior to being banned for testing positive to a banned substance in 2009, he wasn't exactly the poster boy for the NRL. What I think is great about Reni is that he's living proof that people can change.
Reni has turned his life around since being banned from the NRL back in 2009. Since coming back he has a greater sense of maturity about him. He could have easily given up after 2009; instead he trained hard & kept motivated. His hard work paid off when Parramatta rewarded him with a contract at the end of his 2 year suspension.
If I'm honest, I was skeptical at first. I didn't want someone with his past at our great club. Well Reni has definitely proved me wrong. The motivation and determination he showed during his ban and the maturity he has shown since returning to the NRL field is truly inspirational. Some people may argue that someone with Reni’s past should never be called inspirational but I do think people can change. It wouldn’t have been easy training that whole time not knowing whether you were able to get another contract. Players get through the gruelling pre-season knowing it’s only a few months before they’re back on the footy field. Reni didn’t have that luxury, he had to find another way to keep motivated. It’s how you react during times like this that truly shows your character. Reni has shown he’s a motivated, hardworking professional athlete.
Some people may think the way Reni handled himself after being told his services were no longer required at Parramatta after the 2013 season was unprofessional. I think it’s yet another way that he has shown his maturity. I’m sure this would have been very hard to hear for Reni and even the other players involved. For him to be able to admit that his head is not in the right place for the game that weekend would have been a tough decision to make. A lot of people don’t see it this way but he was making the best decision for himself and his team mates. All the time I hear Parramatta fans complaining about how some players hearts aren’t in there; if they’re not going to put in 100% then they should leave. Well Reni admitted this and chose to sit out, why were people so annoyed at this? Some people had the view that he is a professional sportsperson and gets paid well so he should suck it up. My response to those people is; just because he gets paid a lot, he’s still only human. I ask you all to put yourself in Reni’s position. How many of you would chuck a sickie if your boss told you they were making your role redundant in 4 weeks and you were no longer needed? At least Reni was man enough to be honest about it.
I am terribly sad to see Reni go. In his short time at the Eels he has made an impression on many fans. I would have hoped he would finish his career at Parramatta but I know I will always consider myself a Reni Maitua fan no matter where he ends up…even if it is the Bulldogs.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
I've already written blogs about Jarryd & Mitch. Morgs & Darcy have long careers ahead of them so there's plenty of time to write about them. That leaves our departing co-captain Reni Maitua. I thought it would only be fitting to write a post about him as he leaves the Eels to go back to where it all started for him, the Bulldogs.
Reni has had a troubled past. Prior to being banned for testing positive to a banned substance in 2009, he wasn't exactly the poster boy for the NRL. What I think is great about Reni is that he's living proof that people can change.
Reni has turned his life around since being banned from the NRL back in 2009. Since coming back he has a greater sense of maturity about him. He could have easily given up after 2009; instead he trained hard & kept motivated. His hard work paid off when Parramatta rewarded him with a contract at the end of his 2 year suspension.
If I'm honest, I was skeptical at first. I didn't want someone with his past at our great club. Well Reni has definitely proved me wrong. The motivation and determination he showed during his ban and the maturity he has shown since returning to the NRL field is truly inspirational. Some people may argue that someone with Reni’s past should never be called inspirational but I do think people can change. It wouldn’t have been easy training that whole time not knowing whether you were able to get another contract. Players get through the gruelling pre-season knowing it’s only a few months before they’re back on the footy field. Reni didn’t have that luxury, he had to find another way to keep motivated. It’s how you react during times like this that truly shows your character. Reni has shown he’s a motivated, hardworking professional athlete.
Some people may think the way Reni handled himself after being told his services were no longer required at Parramatta after the 2013 season was unprofessional. I think it’s yet another way that he has shown his maturity. I’m sure this would have been very hard to hear for Reni and even the other players involved. For him to be able to admit that his head is not in the right place for the game that weekend would have been a tough decision to make. A lot of people don’t see it this way but he was making the best decision for himself and his team mates. All the time I hear Parramatta fans complaining about how some players hearts aren’t in there; if they’re not going to put in 100% then they should leave. Well Reni admitted this and chose to sit out, why were people so annoyed at this? Some people had the view that he is a professional sportsperson and gets paid well so he should suck it up. My response to those people is; just because he gets paid a lot, he’s still only human. I ask you all to put yourself in Reni’s position. How many of you would chuck a sickie if your boss told you they were making your role redundant in 4 weeks and you were no longer needed? At least Reni was man enough to be honest about it.
I am terribly sad to see Reni go. In his short time at the Eels he has made an impression on many fans. I would have hoped he would finish his career at Parramatta but I know I will always consider myself a Reni Maitua fan no matter where he ends up…even if it is the Bulldogs.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Glory Bound: The South Sydney Rabbitohs - By Rochelle
From an early age in 1980, a 6 year old girl would dress in
her favourite South Sydney supporter gear. Often I would be mistaken for a boy
and be called Mate a lot but it still didn't worry me, I was at Redfern Oval
with my dad cheering on my beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Over the years, we have gone from ground to ground, up the freeway, down the freeway and back again - each year we never made the finals.
Flash forward to 2013 and this is definately the best year I have ever experienced as a Souths supporter.
I am sharing the experience with my 4 kids - who have equally adopted this team with pride and passion - we are South Sydney supporters until we die.
We dress up in our supporter gear, we cheer on loudly and proudly. We have sat in the burrow and cheered our team home. This is our year and we can't be prouder of our team.
This week we tackle Manly - onwards to victory and onwards to a date with the Grand Final. We have our tickets ready to go and we can't be more excited.
South Sydney Til We Die.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Over the years, we have gone from ground to ground, up the freeway, down the freeway and back again - each year we never made the finals.
Flash forward to 2013 and this is definately the best year I have ever experienced as a Souths supporter.
I am sharing the experience with my 4 kids - who have equally adopted this team with pride and passion - we are South Sydney supporters until we die.
We dress up in our supporter gear, we cheer on loudly and proudly. We have sat in the burrow and cheered our team home. This is our year and we can't be prouder of our team.
This week we tackle Manly - onwards to victory and onwards to a date with the Grand Final. We have our tickets ready to go and we can't be more excited.
South Sydney Til We Die.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Monday, September 23, 2013
This week in NRL - by Mary
Good morning everyone,
I have a couple of issues to blog about this morning, so expect this to cover a couple of issues.
First of all - I am expecting some tremendous football this weekend. The four teams that remain in the Finals race have played some very exciting football in the last few weeks.
I can't wait to see Steve Matai and Sam Burgess on Friday night - the niggle factor will certainly be there. I am looking forward to seeing the Souths fans in their red and green hopeful that their team progresses one more week till the big dance.
Most people know I have been on the Roosters bandwagon since the Finals began. While the Roosters have been in sensational form, the Knights are certainly proving to be the surprise packet in this years Final. After their last 2 performances, they certainly deserve their Finals spot and following their defeat of Melbourne, I would not be surprised to see them upset a red hot Roosters side.
Whatever the result, the NRL will be licking its lips come Grand Final weekend - 3 teams based in the heart of Sydney and the Knights should generate plenty of NRL excitement in the greater Sydney area (even if one of the teams happens to be Manly). Will we see the 'NSW conspirary' argument raise its head in the next week and a half? Undoubtedly.
I also wanted to make a brief comment on an article by Rebecca Wilson which appeared in the Telegraph over the weekend. You can read that story here. In this story Wilson describes the new ARLC as a 'rabble' and outlines the failings of the new Commission including Grant's lack of leadership and a weekend of football with 'appalling operational stuff-ups'.
This article bothered me tremendously. Was it because I love NRL and I saw Wilson bad mouthing my sport? Probably not, considering that I have had my fair share of negative comments about the NRL this weekend.
I think its because I feel as though it is very easy to criticise and not offer any solutions. Further, Wilson has focused on all the negativity surrounding League this year when, particularly in the lead up to the Finals, the focus should largely be on the teams still competing and the success that the NRL has had this year.
We are faced with the prospect of 2 sensational games of football this weekend - we should be looking to celebrate this and in due course reflect on the year that has been and how we can improve next year.
In other NRL news, Mitchell Allgood has pleaded guilty to a charge of mid-range driving under the influence of alcohol. The case has been adjourned till December 18.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't extremely disappointed to hear this news - particularly after all I have said about players being role models throughout the year. This charge followed Mad Monday celebrations and ties nicely into the articles we wrote here on @LadiesWhoLeague about what role Mad Monday should play in upcoming NRL seasons.
I am pleased that Mitch will be completing a drtiving offenders course and that his fine will be donated to a charity of his choice. I look forward to Mitch moving forward from this incident and continuing to be the fine role model for the Parramatta Eels and for the community at large which I know he can be.
Finally, here at @LadiesWhoLeauge we are getting very excited about the Dally M's. Hopefully we'll be tweeting live from the event - keep your fingers crossed.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
I have a couple of issues to blog about this morning, so expect this to cover a couple of issues.
First of all - I am expecting some tremendous football this weekend. The four teams that remain in the Finals race have played some very exciting football in the last few weeks.
I can't wait to see Steve Matai and Sam Burgess on Friday night - the niggle factor will certainly be there. I am looking forward to seeing the Souths fans in their red and green hopeful that their team progresses one more week till the big dance.
Most people know I have been on the Roosters bandwagon since the Finals began. While the Roosters have been in sensational form, the Knights are certainly proving to be the surprise packet in this years Final. After their last 2 performances, they certainly deserve their Finals spot and following their defeat of Melbourne, I would not be surprised to see them upset a red hot Roosters side.
Whatever the result, the NRL will be licking its lips come Grand Final weekend - 3 teams based in the heart of Sydney and the Knights should generate plenty of NRL excitement in the greater Sydney area (even if one of the teams happens to be Manly). Will we see the 'NSW conspirary' argument raise its head in the next week and a half? Undoubtedly.
I also wanted to make a brief comment on an article by Rebecca Wilson which appeared in the Telegraph over the weekend. You can read that story here. In this story Wilson describes the new ARLC as a 'rabble' and outlines the failings of the new Commission including Grant's lack of leadership and a weekend of football with 'appalling operational stuff-ups'.
This article bothered me tremendously. Was it because I love NRL and I saw Wilson bad mouthing my sport? Probably not, considering that I have had my fair share of negative comments about the NRL this weekend.
I think its because I feel as though it is very easy to criticise and not offer any solutions. Further, Wilson has focused on all the negativity surrounding League this year when, particularly in the lead up to the Finals, the focus should largely be on the teams still competing and the success that the NRL has had this year.
We are faced with the prospect of 2 sensational games of football this weekend - we should be looking to celebrate this and in due course reflect on the year that has been and how we can improve next year.
In other NRL news, Mitchell Allgood has pleaded guilty to a charge of mid-range driving under the influence of alcohol. The case has been adjourned till December 18.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't extremely disappointed to hear this news - particularly after all I have said about players being role models throughout the year. This charge followed Mad Monday celebrations and ties nicely into the articles we wrote here on @LadiesWhoLeague about what role Mad Monday should play in upcoming NRL seasons.
I am pleased that Mitch will be completing a drtiving offenders course and that his fine will be donated to a charity of his choice. I look forward to Mitch moving forward from this incident and continuing to be the fine role model for the Parramatta Eels and for the community at large which I know he can be.
Finally, here at @LadiesWhoLeauge we are getting very excited about the Dally M's. Hopefully we'll be tweeting live from the event - keep your fingers crossed.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Who's on the Knights bandwagon? - By Mary
Is there anyone out there who doesn't love Finals football? 4 weeks ago it was unlikely that anyone would have predicted that the Newcastle Knights would still be playing football come the week of the Preliminary finals.
Last night, the Newcastle Knights held on to defeat the Melbourne Storm 18-16 in their first win in Melbourne since 2004. Separately, this is Melbourne's worst end to a season since 2005.
The focus today has largely been on Wayne Bennett and what he has achieved with a very youthful Knights side with stand outs including Tyrone Roberts, Dane Gagai, Kevin Naiqama and Joey Leilua. The Knights outfit withstood a fight back from the Storm and now progress one week closer to Grand Final weekend.
A big challenge awaits the Knights next week. While they have already successfully eliminated the Bulldogs and the Storm, next week they face a red hot Roosters side. This will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge they have faced to date.
Bellamy made the comment last night (or should it be Knight?) that his side seemed to lack their usual September buzz.
The Knights are one team who are not lacking in this buzz. The Knights are playing excellent football at the right time of the season.
Earlier in the season and throughout the season I have made the comment that the Top 4 (being the Roosters, Bunnies, Storm and Manly) were head and shoulders above all the other teams and that our 2013 Premier would come from these 4. After watching the Knights over the last 2 weeks I am not so sure.
Rest assured the Knights will be brimming with confidence from a win which breaks an awful record for them in Melbourne.
How far can they go? Their performance this coming weekend will let us know.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
P.S. A big shout out to one of our readers, @theotherjo who is a MASSIVE Knights fan. Sadly, should the Knights beat the Roosters this weekend she will not be in the country to watch the Grand Final. Sad Face.
P.P.S. One final comment. One of our wonderful readers commented that the ultimate irony occurred in the last 20 minutes of the game. At this point of the game, the Melbourne Storm were given a penalty in front of the sticks, still trailing the Knights 18-10. The Storm elected to take the tap and put the ball down 2 plays later. With the Storm eventually losing by 2 points, its an interesting question as to what turn the game would have taken had the Storm taken the two.
How far can they go? Their performance this coming weekend will let us know.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
P.S. A big shout out to one of our readers, @theotherjo who is a MASSIVE Knights fan. Sadly, should the Knights beat the Roosters this weekend she will not be in the country to watch the Grand Final. Sad Face.
P.P.S. One final comment. One of our wonderful readers commented that the ultimate irony occurred in the last 20 minutes of the game. At this point of the game, the Melbourne Storm were given a penalty in front of the sticks, still trailing the Knights 18-10. The Storm elected to take the tap and put the ball down 2 plays later. With the Storm eventually losing by 2 points, its an interesting question as to what turn the game would have taken had the Storm taken the two.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
An update on Circus Parramatta - By Mary
As I have often commented when writing stories for @LadiesWhoLeague, it wouldn't be a week of blogging without a story on the circus that is the Parramatta Eels at the moment.
For those that have been following the political issues which have engulfed the Club throughout this year (and to be fair, Parramatta have been fairly unstable arguably for the last 5 years), you will know that at a Leagues Club Board level there has been continuing pressure from the former Chairman of the Board Roy Spagnolo to return to Board. Under Spagnolo, one of the Board's greatest achievements was the profit he was able to generate for the Leagues Club.
However, Spagnolo has since been issued with a show-cause letter which asks him to explain a list of irregularities discovered during an independent audit by Russell Corporate Advisory. We can expect a response from Roy on Tuesday. This coincides with a meeting of the Leagues Club board which could in turn choose to suspend his membership.
Sigh.
The group at Parramatta (apart from the fans) who I feel most sorry for are the players. While much has been said about the performances of the players on the field, Parramatta will not be a successful football club until the front room is in order. It comes as no coincidence that 2 of the worst performing teams this year, being the Eels and the Tigers have been the 2 clubs who had issues at a management level.
Hopefully, following the hearing on Tuesday this can be sorted out. Whether this means Spagnolo being cleared and returning to the board or whether it means Spagnolo walking away, its clear that the current situation is not working and Parramatta will not see on field result until this circus stops.
In other news, tremendous congratulations need to be given to Scott Seward who was appointed CEO of the Parramatta Eels yesterday. Seward has been promoted within and was previously the general manager of membership and consumer business at the Eels.
The Eels will look to name a new coach for Ricky Stuart by the end of the week.
I just hope that following the new appointments, Parramatta can look to have a fresh start (again) next year and work towards having both a CEO and a coach who are long term appointments.
Parramatta fans will be looking for a quick fix but I am confident that there isn't one. While this doesn't mean we can't have short term success, it does mean that Parramatta fans need to be patient. Hopefully both the new CEO and coach can work together in order to get Parramatta back on track and again make us a Club where players want to come and play.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
P.S. A brief comment on the 'protest march' which happened at Parramatta Stadium yesterday. I use the term march loosely because 40 members out of 17,000 is not enough to constitute an effective voice for the Eels membership base. I sound like a broken record but what Parramatta now needs is stability. We also need the support of our fans (despite how difficult it is). Protest marches like this achieve nothing, particularly when the new board was only elected this year and really hasn't had much of a change to make a difference... yet.
For those that have been following the political issues which have engulfed the Club throughout this year (and to be fair, Parramatta have been fairly unstable arguably for the last 5 years), you will know that at a Leagues Club Board level there has been continuing pressure from the former Chairman of the Board Roy Spagnolo to return to Board. Under Spagnolo, one of the Board's greatest achievements was the profit he was able to generate for the Leagues Club.
However, Spagnolo has since been issued with a show-cause letter which asks him to explain a list of irregularities discovered during an independent audit by Russell Corporate Advisory. We can expect a response from Roy on Tuesday. This coincides with a meeting of the Leagues Club board which could in turn choose to suspend his membership.
Sigh.
The group at Parramatta (apart from the fans) who I feel most sorry for are the players. While much has been said about the performances of the players on the field, Parramatta will not be a successful football club until the front room is in order. It comes as no coincidence that 2 of the worst performing teams this year, being the Eels and the Tigers have been the 2 clubs who had issues at a management level.
Hopefully, following the hearing on Tuesday this can be sorted out. Whether this means Spagnolo being cleared and returning to the board or whether it means Spagnolo walking away, its clear that the current situation is not working and Parramatta will not see on field result until this circus stops.
In other news, tremendous congratulations need to be given to Scott Seward who was appointed CEO of the Parramatta Eels yesterday. Seward has been promoted within and was previously the general manager of membership and consumer business at the Eels.
The Eels will look to name a new coach for Ricky Stuart by the end of the week.
I just hope that following the new appointments, Parramatta can look to have a fresh start (again) next year and work towards having both a CEO and a coach who are long term appointments.
Parramatta fans will be looking for a quick fix but I am confident that there isn't one. While this doesn't mean we can't have short term success, it does mean that Parramatta fans need to be patient. Hopefully both the new CEO and coach can work together in order to get Parramatta back on track and again make us a Club where players want to come and play.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
P.S. A brief comment on the 'protest march' which happened at Parramatta Stadium yesterday. I use the term march loosely because 40 members out of 17,000 is not enough to constitute an effective voice for the Eels membership base. I sound like a broken record but what Parramatta now needs is stability. We also need the support of our fans (despite how difficult it is). Protest marches like this achieve nothing, particularly when the new board was only elected this year and really hasn't had much of a change to make a difference... yet.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Jeff Robson, an unsung hero - By Mary
Happy Friday readers of Ladies Who League.
After two days with little content produced (apologies for that), I thought it was time to flick through the papers this morning to see what was happening in the world of NRL.
As most of you know, I am a person who really appreciates an underdog, so you cannot imagine my delight when I read Michael Carayannis's article this morning about Jeff Robson. You can check the article out here.
Many of you will know that Jeff Robson used to play at Parramatta. He became one of my favourite players in 2009 and also a player I tremendously respected.
Jeff Robson is a man who genuinely loves to play rugby league, so much so that before finding a home at Parramatta and then Cronulla, he moved from club to club looking for one year contracts.
He is a player that works his backside off each and every game. While he may not have the raw talent of a Greg Inglis or a Jarryd Hayne, he always gives it 100 per cent for his team and for his mates on the field. He is a strong defender and an unnoticed hero, who always gets the job done to the best of his ability.
Tonight as he puts on his boots for his Sharkies, he will play his 25th game of the season - the most he has ever played in one year.
I am absolutely delighted for Jeff - a true underdog and a player that always gives it 100 per cent.
I wish him well for his game this weekend and will certainly be cheering from him from my lounge.
Love
@LadiesWhoLeague
After two days with little content produced (apologies for that), I thought it was time to flick through the papers this morning to see what was happening in the world of NRL.
As most of you know, I am a person who really appreciates an underdog, so you cannot imagine my delight when I read Michael Carayannis's article this morning about Jeff Robson. You can check the article out here.
Many of you will know that Jeff Robson used to play at Parramatta. He became one of my favourite players in 2009 and also a player I tremendously respected.
Jeff Robson is a man who genuinely loves to play rugby league, so much so that before finding a home at Parramatta and then Cronulla, he moved from club to club looking for one year contracts.
He is a player that works his backside off each and every game. While he may not have the raw talent of a Greg Inglis or a Jarryd Hayne, he always gives it 100 per cent for his team and for his mates on the field. He is a strong defender and an unnoticed hero, who always gets the job done to the best of his ability.
Tonight as he puts on his boots for his Sharkies, he will play his 25th game of the season - the most he has ever played in one year.
I am absolutely delighted for Jeff - a true underdog and a player that always gives it 100 per cent.
I wish him well for his game this weekend and will certainly be cheering from him from my lounge.
Love
@LadiesWhoLeague
Monday, September 16, 2013
All I'm hearing is rumours - By Mary
Would it be a week here at @LadiesWhoLeague without one story about Parramatta... probably not.
For those of you who have had time to flick through the sports sections today you will notice that now that Ricky Stuart has formally signed a contract with the Raiders for 3 years, the latest headline about the Eels is the rumour that Jarryd Hayne will be moving to the Bulldogs.
This rumour has been around for a couple of weeks now.
Fuel was added to the fire this morning, when Michael Ennis backed Hayne as the perfect replacement for Canterbury's departing fullback, Ben Barba.
Such a claim is not surprising. Hayne is a world class player and almost any team would be delighted to have him playing for them. Michael Ennis has not revealed anything new or ground-breaking, particularly when you consider the calibre of player that the Bulldogs are losing in Ben Barba.
The Daily Telegraph suggests that the Bulldogs are planning a million-dollar play for Jarryd Hayne in order to fill the shoes (or boots) left by Ben Barba.
As a Parramatta fan, I would hope to see Jarryd Hayne stay. He is a home grown hero and absolutely adored by the Parramatta faithful. He is extremely valuable to our team.
At a time when Parramatta as a club is facing tremendous difficulty, loyalty is also extremely important. While Hayne might want to chase Premiership success elsewhere, I feel there is more value in sticking by his team mates and helping to dig Parramatta out of the current hole we find ourselves in.
One man who seems confident that Hayne will stay is Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp. Sharp has confirmed that Hayne does not have a get out clause (thank goodness for that). However, in the face of much movement by players between clubs throughout the year, that statement doesn't fill me with much confidence.
What are your thoughts?
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
For those of you who have had time to flick through the sports sections today you will notice that now that Ricky Stuart has formally signed a contract with the Raiders for 3 years, the latest headline about the Eels is the rumour that Jarryd Hayne will be moving to the Bulldogs.
This rumour has been around for a couple of weeks now.
Fuel was added to the fire this morning, when Michael Ennis backed Hayne as the perfect replacement for Canterbury's departing fullback, Ben Barba.
Such a claim is not surprising. Hayne is a world class player and almost any team would be delighted to have him playing for them. Michael Ennis has not revealed anything new or ground-breaking, particularly when you consider the calibre of player that the Bulldogs are losing in Ben Barba.
The Daily Telegraph suggests that the Bulldogs are planning a million-dollar play for Jarryd Hayne in order to fill the shoes (or boots) left by Ben Barba.
As a Parramatta fan, I would hope to see Jarryd Hayne stay. He is a home grown hero and absolutely adored by the Parramatta faithful. He is extremely valuable to our team.
At a time when Parramatta as a club is facing tremendous difficulty, loyalty is also extremely important. While Hayne might want to chase Premiership success elsewhere, I feel there is more value in sticking by his team mates and helping to dig Parramatta out of the current hole we find ourselves in.
One man who seems confident that Hayne will stay is Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp. Sharp has confirmed that Hayne does not have a get out clause (thank goodness for that). However, in the face of much movement by players between clubs throughout the year, that statement doesn't fill me with much confidence.
What are your thoughts?
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
It's A Long Way To The Top - By Amber
As a passionate Sydney Roosters supporter of the last thirteen years, I am extremely proud of my team's successes and triumphs so far this year. The Minor Premiership being the standout so far, of course.
It has been an eleven year rollercoaster ride since our last Premiership win back in 2002 when an inspirational Freddy Fittler took charge of his team after an amazing forty twenty kick and lead us to victory.
Throughout this time the Sydney Roosters have recruited many new players and had its share of coaching changes. We've welcomed names like Willie Mason & Todd Carney into the chook pen who unfortunately did not keep their end of the bargain during their time at the club though today remain amazing contributors to our wonderful game.
The coaching techniques of Brad Fittler were, I feel, not respected enough by the team of 2007 to 2009 for any truly glorious success to occur. We had also recruited Brian Smith & Chris Anderson under which the right balance just never occurred.
Besides the inspirational leadership of our current coach Trent Robinson, our most successful coach during this period was the amazing Ricky Stuart. There is a new chapter for Ricky around the corner and although controversy surrounds him, one can only wish him well in life.
The above events of the Sydney Roosters past eleven years are only a shadow of the trials and triumphs my team has experienced during this timeframe. I can only say that nothing has been given to the silvertails on a silver platter. They have been scrutinized season and season out like every other team. As a fan of the NRL and specifically Sydney Roosters, I can only wish your club every success in the future too.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
It has been an eleven year rollercoaster ride since our last Premiership win back in 2002 when an inspirational Freddy Fittler took charge of his team after an amazing forty twenty kick and lead us to victory.
Throughout this time the Sydney Roosters have recruited many new players and had its share of coaching changes. We've welcomed names like Willie Mason & Todd Carney into the chook pen who unfortunately did not keep their end of the bargain during their time at the club though today remain amazing contributors to our wonderful game.
The coaching techniques of Brad Fittler were, I feel, not respected enough by the team of 2007 to 2009 for any truly glorious success to occur. We had also recruited Brian Smith & Chris Anderson under which the right balance just never occurred.
Besides the inspirational leadership of our current coach Trent Robinson, our most successful coach during this period was the amazing Ricky Stuart. There is a new chapter for Ricky around the corner and although controversy surrounds him, one can only wish him well in life.
The above events of the Sydney Roosters past eleven years are only a shadow of the trials and triumphs my team has experienced during this timeframe. I can only say that nothing has been given to the silvertails on a silver platter. They have been scrutinized season and season out like every other team. As a fan of the NRL and specifically Sydney Roosters, I can only wish your club every success in the future too.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Saturday Night's Goose-athon - By Hayley
Jonathan Thurston, you are a goose; maybe even more of a goose than the 6 officials on Saturday night who can’t count to 6.
I was celebrating my best friend’s wedding on Saturday night so did not watch the game, nor have I seen footage of the set of 6, or I should say 7, which has been the talking point since Saturday. I have however, heard the outrage it has caused. Referees are humans and are always going to make mistakes, it happens all the time but is just less tolerated in finals and Origin games.
If I was a Cowboys fan I would be absolutely fuming that this has happened and they have every right to be. Did it lose them the game though? No, I do not think it did. If Sharks didn’t score then, I highly doubt the final score would have been 18-14. Who knows what could have happened if that set finished at 6 tackles. Sharks could have kicked the ball on the 5th and Cowboys could have dropped the ball right on their line and Sharks could have scored on the repeat set of 6 anyway. We don’t know what could have happened. This is why I don’t think the Cowboys should be reinstated into the finals as the petition suggests. As disappointing as it is, this sometimes happens and the final result needs to stand.
The fact that they have been a victim of poor referring in Finals matches 2 years in a row must be devastating for the fans and players.
This brings me to the most ridiculous part of the whole saga. The conspiracy theory that the NRL want an all Sydney Grand Final due to Queensland’s dominance in State of Origin. In Thurston’s defence it was the media who put the thought into his head by asking the question but he did agree with it and has run with it. There is absolutely no way that this is the case. When people look at Queensland club teams, they don’t think of Origin. The majority of Queensland players play for non-Queensland club teams. It was an absolutely ridiculous comment.
If the referees were trying to have an input into the outcome, would they not do something that was more likely to guarantee the result? Looking at the stats it looks as though it was a fairly even contest. The penalty count wasn’t even lopsided, it was fairly even. It’s not like the Cowboys had the better stats but Sharks won anyway.
If the NRL allow the Cowboys to be reinstated into the Finals then they should go through every game this season as a team that was 1 win away from making the finals could have lost a game due to an incorrect referring decision during the season. Where do we stop? By requesting that Cowboys are reinstated are they asking for the Sharks to be kicked out? Why do the Sharks deserve to be kicked out over a poor refereeing decision if the Cowboys don’t deserve it?
I know if it was my team I would be signing that petition and would be doing everything I could to make it happen. It’s not my team though and I am able to look at the situation without the emotion and can see it’s not the right decision to have them reinstated. It’s unfair but unfortunately life is not always fair. Hopefully we can get through the rest of the Finals series with no more drama.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
I was celebrating my best friend’s wedding on Saturday night so did not watch the game, nor have I seen footage of the set of 6, or I should say 7, which has been the talking point since Saturday. I have however, heard the outrage it has caused. Referees are humans and are always going to make mistakes, it happens all the time but is just less tolerated in finals and Origin games.
If I was a Cowboys fan I would be absolutely fuming that this has happened and they have every right to be. Did it lose them the game though? No, I do not think it did. If Sharks didn’t score then, I highly doubt the final score would have been 18-14. Who knows what could have happened if that set finished at 6 tackles. Sharks could have kicked the ball on the 5th and Cowboys could have dropped the ball right on their line and Sharks could have scored on the repeat set of 6 anyway. We don’t know what could have happened. This is why I don’t think the Cowboys should be reinstated into the finals as the petition suggests. As disappointing as it is, this sometimes happens and the final result needs to stand.
The fact that they have been a victim of poor referring in Finals matches 2 years in a row must be devastating for the fans and players.
This brings me to the most ridiculous part of the whole saga. The conspiracy theory that the NRL want an all Sydney Grand Final due to Queensland’s dominance in State of Origin. In Thurston’s defence it was the media who put the thought into his head by asking the question but he did agree with it and has run with it. There is absolutely no way that this is the case. When people look at Queensland club teams, they don’t think of Origin. The majority of Queensland players play for non-Queensland club teams. It was an absolutely ridiculous comment.
If the referees were trying to have an input into the outcome, would they not do something that was more likely to guarantee the result? Looking at the stats it looks as though it was a fairly even contest. The penalty count wasn’t even lopsided, it was fairly even. It’s not like the Cowboys had the better stats but Sharks won anyway.
If the NRL allow the Cowboys to be reinstated into the Finals then they should go through every game this season as a team that was 1 win away from making the finals could have lost a game due to an incorrect referring decision during the season. Where do we stop? By requesting that Cowboys are reinstated are they asking for the Sharks to be kicked out? Why do the Sharks deserve to be kicked out over a poor refereeing decision if the Cowboys don’t deserve it?
I know if it was my team I would be signing that petition and would be doing everything I could to make it happen. It’s not my team though and I am able to look at the situation without the emotion and can see it’s not the right decision to have them reinstated. It’s unfair but unfortunately life is not always fair. Hopefully we can get through the rest of the Finals series with no more drama.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Is it ever ok to change teams? - By Sam
I sit here wondering… I am more than likely
twice the age of everyone else that posts something on LadiesWhoLeague! Should I really write
this?? Will anyone even want to read it??
I was luckily born into a family that follows
league! They are all staunch South Sydney Rabbitohs supporters; the only
allowed exception to this rule was for the in-laws! They were frowned upon but
welcomed into the family. Come league season if Souths won the game against
their team they were given hell, but of course if their teams actually won they
were sent to the dog-house.
The family and I of course (I wasn’t game
enough to do otherwise), supported the Bunnies through thick and thin… and of
course they could do no wrong.
Occasionally I was taken to the football to
watch the all 3 grades play, under 23’s, Reserve Grade and then First Grade.
These were the good ‘old days’!! The Winfield Cup when League was League! Scrums
were scrums and could be won against the feed. There was more fighting on the
field then off. Food was eatable and there was more grass then chairs!
In the 90’s:
- I married a Parramatta Eels supporter!
- I had 3 children (all raised Souths Supporters of course). My son decided to follow his father and pretend to support Parramatta. My daughters liked fluffy white bunnies so that was an easy win!
- My then husband, whilst being a Claytons Eel supporter (a supporter but not fanatical) was not one to go to games and was unfazed if he missed the game.
- Oooo and of course in 1999 Souths Sydney were kicked out of the NRL Competition.
A lot happened for me in 2002.
- I divorced the before mentioned Husband.
- I met my now Husband and yes another Parramatta Eels supporter!
- Souths were re-admitted into the 2002 competition.
This Husband was a ‘fanatical’ supporter who
watched every game no matter who was playing. Until now I had never experienced
someone so passionate about his team, well League in general but especially the
Parramatta Eels. We had fun fighting about ref’s decisions and dirty players
etc. when it was Souths vs. Parra, but League was something that was only a game
for me yet a part of his heart and soul.
Come 2009, every Eels supporter knows what
is special about this year; can’t remember why but I sat with him and watched
the Round 26 game against St George. Stunned at the 37-0 loss we decided that it
was not possible for the rematch to be a repeat of the week before. I found
myself eager to sit with him and watch the rematch. Didn’t I have a happy
husband when a different Parramatta team turned up for the game at Kogarah and
came out winners 12-25?
After that game we decided that we would try
to buy tickets to the Semi-Final match against the Titans. Eels kicked butt
27-2, and stormed their way into the Preliminary Finals. To this day I can still
feel the energy, emotion and excitement of the day. Looking around ANZ Stadium you
could see a base of blue and then you could see a dividing line cutting the
stadium in half; half gold and the other white. By this match I didn’t even
notice myself wearing a Parramatta jersey... Was this starting to say something
about where my alliances now lie??
Parramatta again came away victors winning by
22 points to 12. Here we go… After living my life in Sydney I was about to
(hopefully if we could get tickets) go to my first GRAND FINAL! How cool was
that!!
Seeing the players run out I realised I could
actually name who was who… It sounds silly but nevertheless something
that I was never able to do for South’s. I could tell who stuffed up and who
was having a good game. We all know how that game ended… Parramatta losing to
an illegal Melbourne team 23-16.
The past few weeks saw me go through the
adrenaline rushes with my husband. I saw him really enjoy being at the games.
We had discussed getting memberships over the last couple of years, but for
which club?? Parramatta or Souths?? What game do we go see
if they are both playing at home on the same day?? Let’s face it really… I
enjoyed being with him watching Parramatta run around! Knowing the players,
recognising the players.
In the end it was a no brainer really… We
went and bought season tickets to the Parramatta Eels. It turned out to be the
best decision we have made. We have fantastic people that sit around us. We
have met some great supporters through Twitter. These people have become part
of our extended family! I really hate the off season, not seeing our family,
not seeing the boys run around.
Now I’m not going to go into anything about
the recent happens at the club… that’s for another post.
All I will say is that I am:
- Upset that we have lost or are losing some really really good young players like Cheyse Blair and of course one of my favourites Nathan Smith! Here’s hoping that now that Ricky has gone Nathan will be given another chance to show how good he is.
- Hopeful that the Board get themselves together.
- Amazed that Denis Fitzgerald still thinks people care what he thinks and wants.
- Happy with the current office staff… I can see the big picture and am liking the way they are taking the Club.
I am EXTREMELY happy with my decision to
change my allegiance; to throw my support and passion behind Parramatta Eels
and become part of the BLUE’N’GOLD ARMY.
Love,
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Sorry isn't enough! - By Mary
I have a confession to make. Last night, I swapped codes. Instead of attending (or even watching) the NRL double header last night, I ventured out to ANZ Stadium to watch the Sydney Swans defeat the Carlton blues to advance to the AFL Preliminary Final.
One thing that struck me while watching the game was the crowd. Last night the AFL drew 37,890 passionate fans. A decent crowd when you consider that one of the teams competing last night is based in Melbourne. In comparison, an NRL double header with 3 out of 4 teams coming from Sydney only attracted 32,747. This is embarrassing and certainly not the numbers the NRL was hoping for.
There have been many reasons put forward for the declining crowds attending NRL games this year. I would suggest that one of the reasons for this is the disappointment and disenfranchisement with refereeing.
Many had predicted that this would happen at some point in the Finals series. All of us hoped that it wouldn't. But last night, a refereeing decision cost the North Queensland Cowboys the game and ultimately destroyed their chances of progressing into this years NRL finals series.
For those of you that missed the game, Beau Ryan scored a try off the seventh tackle in a set of six. As a Parramatta fan, this brought back horrible memories of stories my father told me about Greg Hartley and the refereeing blunders which hurt Parramatta in the late 1970's.
What was the NRL's response to this? Dave Smith personally apologised to Neil Henry. Neil Henry rejected this apology. Does anyone blame him? An apology has no impact on the result and does nothing for the North Queensland Cowboys or their fans. Sorry simply is not enough.
Smith was not the only one who apologised - several NRL Commissioners also went to apologise to the Cowboys at the conclusion of the game.
What is concerning is that this is not the first time this has happened to the Cowboys. At the end of season 2012, the NRL also apologised to them for another controversial decision in the game they lost to Manly, again ending their season. In that occurrence, a knock on by Manly's Kieran Foran was missed in the lead up to a try scored by Jorge Taufua.
We are a professional code that at the moment is being refereed like amateur hour. Fans will not tolerate this for much longer. It is not enough to allow refereeing blunders to occur and then to apologise. Apologies do not revive an ended season and make the work that the players put in each and every week irrelevant. When the outcome of games is decided by something completely out of the players control, we need to start asking questions.
The game currently has 6 referee's - how can such a fundamental mistake be made? Do we need to introduce an extra referee next year just to count tackles.
An inquiry is set to be made into the incident - but this won't bring back Season 2013 for the Cowboys... or their fans.
The NRL should be embarrassed this morning.
I was also disappointed with Todd Greenberg's reassurance that 'this won't happen again in any other game'. It should never have happened at all and for the Cowboys, this would leave a rotten taste in their mouth following their end to Season 2012.
In a game where referee's are unable to be questioned by players and by officials (just ask Ricky Stuart), it seems that we need to ask serious questions unless the NRL wants 20,000 to a finals double header again next year, while the AFL continues to grow at our expense.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
There have been many reasons put forward for the declining crowds attending NRL games this year. I would suggest that one of the reasons for this is the disappointment and disenfranchisement with refereeing.
Many had predicted that this would happen at some point in the Finals series. All of us hoped that it wouldn't. But last night, a refereeing decision cost the North Queensland Cowboys the game and ultimately destroyed their chances of progressing into this years NRL finals series.
For those of you that missed the game, Beau Ryan scored a try off the seventh tackle in a set of six. As a Parramatta fan, this brought back horrible memories of stories my father told me about Greg Hartley and the refereeing blunders which hurt Parramatta in the late 1970's.
What was the NRL's response to this? Dave Smith personally apologised to Neil Henry. Neil Henry rejected this apology. Does anyone blame him? An apology has no impact on the result and does nothing for the North Queensland Cowboys or their fans. Sorry simply is not enough.
Smith was not the only one who apologised - several NRL Commissioners also went to apologise to the Cowboys at the conclusion of the game.
What is concerning is that this is not the first time this has happened to the Cowboys. At the end of season 2012, the NRL also apologised to them for another controversial decision in the game they lost to Manly, again ending their season. In that occurrence, a knock on by Manly's Kieran Foran was missed in the lead up to a try scored by Jorge Taufua.
We are a professional code that at the moment is being refereed like amateur hour. Fans will not tolerate this for much longer. It is not enough to allow refereeing blunders to occur and then to apologise. Apologies do not revive an ended season and make the work that the players put in each and every week irrelevant. When the outcome of games is decided by something completely out of the players control, we need to start asking questions.
The game currently has 6 referee's - how can such a fundamental mistake be made? Do we need to introduce an extra referee next year just to count tackles.
An inquiry is set to be made into the incident - but this won't bring back Season 2013 for the Cowboys... or their fans.
The NRL should be embarrassed this morning.
I was also disappointed with Todd Greenberg's reassurance that 'this won't happen again in any other game'. It should never have happened at all and for the Cowboys, this would leave a rotten taste in their mouth following their end to Season 2012.
In a game where referee's are unable to be questioned by players and by officials (just ask Ricky Stuart), it seems that we need to ask serious questions unless the NRL wants 20,000 to a finals double header again next year, while the AFL continues to grow at our expense.
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
Friday, September 13, 2013
Contracts, do they mean anything anymore? - By Mary
Often when I introduce myself, I call myself a 24 year old lawyer who is passionate about Rugby League. I thought it might be time to do a post which combines my knowledge about the law with my interest in Rugby League.
Contracts are widely used in all areas of the community and form the legal foundation for transactions across the world. Contract law is based on a Latin principle which when translated means, 'agreements must be kept'. This doesn't seem to apply to NRL contracts.
I wonder if I received a call from a NRL club asking my legal opinion about a company or person with whom they had a legally binging contract who was not able to meet their end of the bargain or who decided half way through that contract that they wanted to work for someone else or were not interest in finishing the job? I can tell you that the NRL club would seek to uphold that contract and if that wasn't possible, they would seek a remedy in a court of law.
However, individuals currently involved in the NRL have made a mockery of the idea that 'agreements must be kept'.
Raelene Castle, CEO of the Bulldogs has commented that 'professional athletes live in a false world'.
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, among 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. This is not good enough.
Players need to become commercially aware - aware, not proficient - and at least have an understanding of the obligations under the contract they are entering into. Contracts are legally binding documents. Unfortunately, in the NRL they are often not treated this way.
Imagine in business if a contracted employee wanted to renege on his pact and go to a competitor? Such a dispute has the potential to end up in court with the ultimate decision being to see the enforcement of the contract entered into. The employer might choose to put the employee on 'gardening leave', but the employee remains under contract.
The players that have deserted clubs mid contract and not honoured their obligations suggest that NRL players are above other people who have entered into contracts. This is simply not the case.
While clubs often seem to be at the mercy of players and their decisions, I often imagine a situation where a club makes a player enforce their contract. This could see them playing NSW Cup or sitting on the side lines for the rest of the season, but it would send a strong message - that contracts are there to be enforced. Ultimately however, the club loses as it continues to play a player not contributing to the on field performance of the team.
I am unsure what the solution is - but for starters, this notion of players not having the ability to be commercially responsible needs to be dismissed. If this is the case, then players need to be educated. They need to understand that a contract is a legally binding document and a document which needs to be honoured, just like other employment contracts.
Love,
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Reflection Time - By Mary
It's been a big month here at @LadiesWhoLeague. We are absolutely delighted to have welcomed to many new followers, to have had so many visitors to our site and to hear so many positive messages of support about the articles we are writing. We are humbled by the support we have received and we are very excited about watching the site grow over the coming months.
We'll have a brand new website for the 2014 season and welcome and ideas and suggestions you might have.
Whenever I see the site grow, I feel it is important to reiterate our goal.
I am passionate about Rugby League. While I am first and foremost a Parramatta supporter I also identify as an NRL appreciator. There is no sport I feel more passionate about and it was for this reason that Ladies Who League was born.
We'll have a brand new website for the 2014 season and welcome and ideas and suggestions you might have.
Whenever I see the site grow, I feel it is important to reiterate our goal.
I am passionate about Rugby League. While I am first and foremost a Parramatta supporter I also identify as an NRL appreciator. There is no sport I feel more passionate about and it was for this reason that Ladies Who League was born.
Rugby League is still a very male dominated arena. This is in terms of coaching, management and administration. I feel like women have strong voices and a lot to contribute but I often feel like our voices aren't heard. Ladies Who League is here to change this.
We look forward to hearing all your voices over the coming months.
In other @LadiesWhoLeague news, last night myself and @hayles_maher_ attended the Parramatta Eels Presentation Night.
While some of my posts of late may have suggested a bit of frustration in relation to my club, last night absolutely reiterated for me the reason that I love my club so much.
I will always be proud to be a Parramatta supporter. Through thick and thin I will stand by the individuals that make the club what it is. Players like Ben Smith, Mitchell Allgood, Ryan Morgan, Tim Mannah and Darcy Lussick are wonderful players and even better representatives of my club. Coupled with the very passionate people who work for the Club, it was a wonderful way to end a season which probably won't be very fondly remembered.
We are a proud club, rich in history and tradition and I am confident that we will see results soon.
Highlights of the evening included:
- saying farewell to Matt Keating and thanking him for his tremendous contribution to our club. We also met his beautiful fiance Joss and were pleased to wish them both well;
- meeting Andrew Voss and spreading the @LadiesWhoLeague love;
- listening to Ricky Stuart talk about what a proud club Parramatta is and about the future of the Club,
- remembering season 2013 and celebrating the individual effors and contributions of our players, particularly men like Tim Mannah and Darcy Lussick who won awards.
I've included some photos of the night - guess who is who!
I'm really looking forward to an exciting week of Finals Football ahead.
Thanks for spreading the @LadiesWhoLeague love and remember:
Read it. Love it. Then share it.
@LadiesWhoLeague
P.S. Remember you can always send us some love at ladieswholeague@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing all your voices over the coming months.
In other @LadiesWhoLeague news, last night myself and @hayles_maher_ attended the Parramatta Eels Presentation Night.
While some of my posts of late may have suggested a bit of frustration in relation to my club, last night absolutely reiterated for me the reason that I love my club so much.
I will always be proud to be a Parramatta supporter. Through thick and thin I will stand by the individuals that make the club what it is. Players like Ben Smith, Mitchell Allgood, Ryan Morgan, Tim Mannah and Darcy Lussick are wonderful players and even better representatives of my club. Coupled with the very passionate people who work for the Club, it was a wonderful way to end a season which probably won't be very fondly remembered.
We are a proud club, rich in history and tradition and I am confident that we will see results soon.
Highlights of the evening included:
- saying farewell to Matt Keating and thanking him for his tremendous contribution to our club. We also met his beautiful fiance Joss and were pleased to wish them both well;
- meeting Andrew Voss and spreading the @LadiesWhoLeague love;
- listening to Ricky Stuart talk about what a proud club Parramatta is and about the future of the Club,
- remembering season 2013 and celebrating the individual effors and contributions of our players, particularly men like Tim Mannah and Darcy Lussick who won awards.
I've included some photos of the night - guess who is who!
I'm really looking forward to an exciting week of Finals Football ahead.
Thanks for spreading the @LadiesWhoLeague love and remember:
Read it. Love it. Then share it.
@LadiesWhoLeague
P.S. Remember you can always send us some love at ladieswholeague
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