Visit our new website - By Mary

Dear friends,

This will be our very last post on this blog page. On behalf of Ladies who League I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone for your support and for making our community what it is. We could not have done it without you.

Our big news is that we are very proud to unveil our new website:

www.ladieswholeague.com

Please drop by and pay us a visit. All blogs on this page will be transferred there over time.

Love,

Ladies who League

The Face of Rugby League - and the features that fit

I have always considered Anthony Minichiello to be the 'true' face of rugby league prior to the National Rugby League making it official on 11 February 2014.  Having had the pleasure of meeting Anthony in 2004 spontaneously, he's a wonderful speaker, kind, polite and genuinely happy to talk about the game - in an objective way.

Anthony is from Liverpool in Sydney's west which is right in the  middle of Rugby League's heartland.  Now and then if a player joins the Sydney Roosters, they are perceived to be joining the 'latte set' or silvertails.  Anthony is still the same guy who ran onto the field for the Sydney Roosters in February 2000 and has only ever got into strife in 2004 after a State of Origin team bonding session gone too far - subsequently being sacked from the team.  Thankfully, the NSW selectors gave him a second chance and New South Wales won the series - something that has eluded the New South Wales Blues since 2005.

In 2004 Anthony went on to win the Dally M Fullback of the year and the Harry Sunderland medal - personal awards only bestowed upon those who put the team first and shine that bit brighter...week in and week out.   Anthony continued to achieve, achieve & achieve in 2005 which included his winning the Golden Boot award as the International Player of the Year.

As we all know, life is a rollercoaster and between 2006 and 2010 was one giant curveball for Anthony and the Sydney Roosters with his recurring back injury.  For this Sydney Rooster supporter, patience was hard to hang on to at times in this period, but in typical Minichiello magnificence, Anthony continued to play 110% when back on the field and the Sydney Roosters played in their fourth grand final in a decade - an accomplishment only true leadership can manage.  There's also 2013's sensational year for Anthony which included plenty of silverware and a baby girl to boot.

Not surprisingly, the 'poster boy curse' has been highlighted and for good reason.  The experiences of wonderful players such as Benji Marshall, Brett Stewart, Todd Carney & Ben Barba after their appointment of the Face of Rugby League have been upsetting, unfortunate and incredibly frustrating for fans.  I don't have a crystal ball though I have all the faith in the world that Anthony will lead the National Rugby League to its best year yet. 

Facial features are unique, usually run in the family and nowadays become altered all too easily with the help of cosmetic surgery. Anthony is an enlightening choice for 2014 as his face is one of an inspirational leader who's features hold the potential to make dreams come true.

Love

Ladies who League

NRL Fans, this is my call to you! - By Kristine

NRL fans, the 2014 season is nearly upon us and I hope you are all as excited as I am to have the magic return! Unfortunately, this season I’m looking forward to watching the games in solitude, in the privacy of my own home, rather than out with other fans. Why? Because in short, NRL fans suck.

Basically, NRL fans are temperamental and unpredictable. What I mean is that they pick and choose when to be fans and when not to be. It’s easy to be a fan when you’re winning but the true fans are those who stay when the team is in a rut; those who are there for the long haul. Now, most NRL fans will stick around when their team is losing which is great, but it’s the attitude in which they do so that bothers me. What is the point of being a fan if you are going to sit through the whole match complaining about every little referee decision because it’s arguably not in your favour and complaining about every pass, kick, tackle, decision and mistake made by your team. That’s hardly supportive. I understand that everyone has opinions on how to win but I think the best types of fans are those who take their team for what they are and love them and encourage them anyway. It honestly does the team no good when their fans sit there sulking about the poor form. You cannot always be on top of the ladder. As fans, the most we can ask for is effort and as long as the team shows that, we should be positive fans! Do you think the players don’t already know that they played poorly? They’re not stupid. The last thing they need is for their fans to add to the criticism, the pressure, the guilt and the emptiness that comes with losing. The fans are there to lift the team up after a loss, not add insult to injury and kick them when they’re down. The fans are there to show hope, faith and confidence, not bully the team into low self-esteem.

As a Dragons fan I see this a lot and it disappoints me more and more every time. The fans need to lower their expectations and set small goals for the team so that they can achieve those goals and gradually build up their skills and confidence. Instead of unrealistically expecting your team to go from last to first, how about expect them to come 10th or win half their games. This way, when the goal is achieved, the fans are positive and the team is lifted and are ready to launch into the New Year with some confidence. This comes down to having patience and unfortunately NRL fans seem to lack that. No one is willing to wait ten years for their team to build success. They want it instantly. No one is willing to wait for their under 20s teams to develop into champions, they’d rather just chase the current stars and pay millions to steal them from other teams. No one is willing to wait for a team to gel together, they just expect them to be able to play like the Harlem Globetrotters from the get go. It’s unfair on the players and although many people use “passion” as their excuse, in my eyes, it’s just adding negativity to a club that is already pretty down on itself. It’s not passion, it’s aggressive, it’s forceful and it’s bullying.

I really want to be able to enjoy NRL games whether my team wins or loses but it’s hard to have fun at a game when everybody around you is cursing at the players, the referees, the match and the coach and are being incredible pessimistic towards their team. If this is off putting for me, imagine how off putting it is for a mother or father bringing their young children? It's not the atmosphere that should exist at the footy. It’s hard to enjoy the games when hardly any fans show up just because they don’t have faith that their team might win. We have a great game but the fans are ruining it. It’s quite a shame.

So this is my call to you: change your attitude, change your mentality, change your ways! Be supportive of your team, not critical. Encourage them no matter how badly they are playing. Tell your players you love them and the team after every thrashing and let them know that you will be there through thick and thin, full of faith and confidence. They give us the greatest game of all, they deserve better!

Love,

Ladies Who League

Simply Obsessed - by Mary

On a day where the entire rugby league community is talking about Sam Burgess deciding to make the switch to Rugby Union at the end of the 2014 season, I thought I might do something different.

Now that we have reached February, NRL season is well and truly on its way back. The season is feeling just that little bit closer now with the conclusion of what I thought was an excellent Auckland Nines tournament. For more on that, check out Hayley's article here:

http://ladieswholeague.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-nrl-9s-bonus-5-pointer-by-hayley.html

But last night, I saw something which made me more excited for the upcoming season that anything else… the new Fox Sports ad.

If you haven't had the chance to watch it yet - here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi6y48YoGAo

There are so many things I love about this ad.

First of all - it capitalises on one of the NRL's most successful ad campaigns of all time. Throughout my years as an NRL supporter I can remember many ad campaigns including the years they used Tubthumping by Chumbawumba and This Is Our House by Bon Jovi, but nothing comes close to the year the NRL used Tina Turner's Simply the Best. Whenever I hear that song, I associate it with NRL so I was very excited to see it being used again.

Next, whichever way you look at it - the ad is deliciously cheesy. The rhymes are cheesy, the lyrics are cheesy and the exaggerated facial expressions make me giggle every time… I absolutely love the married couple in their St George Illawarra Dragons donned room or the woman operating the crane.

What I also love about the ad is the use of past champions. This is exactly what the NRL needs to be capitalising on - the reputations of legends like Nathan Hindmarsh and using them to promote the game they served for so long. I also loved seeing Nathan Hindmarsh slam his remote control in frustration whilst watching the Eels play… a feeling I can relate to.

In an era where so many ads we see during the football promote boofheads (I'm thinking primarily alcohol ads) I'm really pleased to see a light hearted ad for the start of the NRL season. It includes women, it includes fans from all walks of life and most hard core NRL supporters can relate to it on some level.

Bring on Season 2014.

And if anyone can tell me where I can buy a puppy wearing JT's headgear, I would be grateful.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

The NRL 9's bonus 5-pointer - By Hayley

With the first NRL 9's tournament now complete, I'd like to take some time to reflect on how the weekend went.

First of all I'd like to congratulate the Cowboys, they definitely deserved the win. It's was a very gutsy defensive effort that saw them get through to the finals & in the end, win the final.

I think we could call it a success & will definitely change the way NRL is played in the future. We've seen the game of cricket evolve since the introduction of the Big Bash and I think we'll see the same for the NRL. Here's some things I took out of this weekend

1. Drop kicks for goal
This is the one thing I would like to see improved for next year. We saw way too many missed conversion attempts. I don't see the rules being changed for next year as it takes too long too set up the kicking tee up to take a goal kick so I would hope that the players will practice a lot more before the next tournament. I think this will change golden point in a regular NRL game. Players will need to be able to kick a field goal from any angle on the field for the 9's so providing they take this seriously, it will improve the quality of golden point. It won't just be a field goal shoot out from in front of the posts. We will hopefully see teams try to go around the defence if field position is not as important as they're more confident of taking field goal attempts from anywhere on the field.

2. The referees
Overall, I think the referees did a good job. They had plenty of new rules to remember & no video ref. Wouldn't it be terrible if we were all talking about the referees performance tomorrow rather than the success of the competition? In saying that, there was one thing that bugged me with the referees this weekend. The 9's is supposed to be a quick game yet some referees still wanted to blow a penalty, walk to the spot & signal what the penalty was for. This is also something that needs to be improved for the NRL season. The NRL want a quicker game and we can't have referees slowing it down. The whistle should be blown & the referees need to be ready to go whenever the attacking team are ready to go. We shouldn't be hearing the referees ask for the players to wait. The referees need to keep up with the pace of the game. Not all refs were guilty of this, some were a lot better than others.

3. Patience, patience, patience
Patience is the key in the 9's. The teams who wanted to score off every play seemed to make more errors & cheaply hand over possession. This takes me to my next point...

4. Possession
It seems so obvious but possession was definitely important in the 9's. Unlike a regular NRL game, you don't get possession after scoring a try. This saw teams being creative in the kick off which I don't think was thought of by most teams when it came to tactics. As the weekend went on we saw more & more teams using the kick off to re-gain possession after a try.

In a game where it's easier to score a try, it's important to have the ball in your hands as much as possible.

5. Wrap it up
Allowing second phase play is what seemed to undo a lot of teams this weekend. The players need to wrap up the ball in tackles & not allow offloads. If you've got more than 1 player in a tackle it's just a really easy way to create an overlap & give the quick, agile players some space.

I loved watching the 9's this weekend. I was really interested to see each teams tactics & I'm really interested to see how teams approach it next year. I'd love to see all teams take it seriously tactics wise but I like the format with the rules on the number of star players playing in the tournament. I don't think we can expect teams to play all of their star players due to the risk of injury & player burn out. I think it's great that otherwise unknown players can make a name for themselves in the 9's tournament.

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend just as much I did. We at @LadiesWhoLeague would love to know your thoughts on the tournament.

Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague

Is Blake Ferguson a Victim? - By Hayley

As you all probably know, yesterday Blake Ferguson received a 2 year good behaviour bond after being charged for indecent assault last year. Now I like to think that I'm pretty fair towards the players & always try to see things from their side & put myself into their shoes, or should I say boots. However I just can't agree with the comments Ferguson & his lawyer made yesterday.

Adam Houda, who is Ferguson's lawyer, says he needs support from the NRL, not banishment. In my opinion Ferguson has had his chance to get support from the NRL, they've stood by him & he blew it. It's time he gets help from the right people. There's only so much the NRL can do.

What I can't understand is how Blake has not yet seemed to take any responsibility for the situation he's in. His lawyer blames the NRL for leaving him to "hang out out with the undesirables". Maybe if Blake didn't indecently assault a women he would still have a job; he would be earning an income.

If Ferguson truly does have the issues his lawyer says he does, then he should be seeking the appropriate help. Getting signed by a club isn't going to magically erase his childhood memories. It's terrible what he's gone through as a child but it's not something the NRL can fix.

The fact that Ferguson thinks he's being treated too harshly because he "only has two strikes against his name" just shows that the NRL need to crack down on poor behaviour. Just because players have got away with worse in the past, doesn't mean it's right. You need to take responsibility for your actions & stop feeling sorry for yourself, Blake.

What baffles me is how Blake has become the victim in all of this. It seems that Blake & his lawyer have forgotten about the woman that he indecently assaulted. Instead of coming out & apologising to the victim, he's come out & complained about how it has affected him. I know exactly what Ferguson's lawyer is trying to do, he's trying to get his client an NRL contract. I just think he should be taking accountability instead of blaming the NRL. He needs to work hard to prove he's changed. Maybe if Ferguson showed some remorse people wouldn't be "condemning" him.

Being signed by a club & having something to work for everyday is supposedly going to be good for Blake; it's what he needs at the moment. Well how come it didn't work in the past? If it's all he needs then he wouldn't be in this mess.

Blake needs to take responsibility for his actions. I don't think he believes he's done anything wrong. He's just full of excuses. He needs to stop playing the victim & move on with his life. He can't blame the NRL for not having an income. It's his actions that have got him in this situation & it's only his own actions that are going to get him out of it.

Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague

Is 2 better than 1? - By Mary

NRL season is well and truly on its way. 

Last week, new Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthurs announced the captains for the Parramatta Eels for the 2014 season.

As expected, Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah will continue as co-captains for the Eels in season 2014.

The way I look at it, Arthurs only had two options - either appointing one of these men as captain or going down the path he has chosen, being to select co-captains.

When you look at each individual it is clear as to why they have been selected.

Tim Mannah is one of Parramatta's favourite sons. He is a sensational role model and his community involvement is something which the Parramatta Eels truly celebrate. Tim was recognised for his work in the community late last year, being awarded the Parramatta 'Citizen of the Year'. It seems as though Tim Mannah will follow in the footsteps of club legends Luke Burt, Nathan Cayless and Nathan Hindmarsh and be a one club man. As a footballer he is respected not only by the other members of the team, but anyone with involvement in the Parramatta Eels club as a whole.

Jarryd Hayne is an extremely talented footballer - the best on the field for the Parramatta Eels last year. He is a man who can change the outcome of a game on his own and when he is on, he is on. Parramatta are a better football team when Jarryd plays and his contribution to our team is invaluable.

However, I always have misapprehensions about the concept of a dual-captaincy. For me, this appointment suggests that there was not a clear choice of captain.

In order for the dual-captaincy to be a success very clear boundaries need to be set. The concept of a captain is that there is one individual which players look to in order to make decisions, to inspire and to lead. If each captain does not have clear boundaries and truly understand their role, then there may be conflict and mixed messages on the field.

Parramatta have lacked direction over the past few seasons in all aspects of their game. We need a strong leader to take control.

If Parramatta are to succeed, both players are crucial. They need to understand their roles on the field and work together to ensure that the players are moving in the same direction.

This arrangement has the potential to be very successful. I look forward to seeing how it plays out on the field - particularly since some other teams already seem to have the dual-captaincy formula down pat.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

2014 Season Preview - By Hayley

It’s that time of year where NRL fans across the country begin to get really excited. The trials are fast approaching which is a reminder that the NRL kick off for 2014 is not so far away. With the World Cup and the Nines Tournament it’s really felt like the off-season has flown by this year.

It’s the time of year where hope and anticipation starts creeping in. You start to think about how your team might go this year. You dare to dream that it will be your club captain that’s holding up that Premiership Trophy come September time.

How will your team finish up at the end of the regular season in 2014? Here’s what I think:

Sydney Roosters – 3^rd

Whilst the Roosters were able to keep their 2013 Grand Final squad, I don’t think they’ll be able to go back to back minor premierships. I’m tipping they’ll still have a good year, just not as good as 2013. With a lot of rep players, they’ll need to be careful of player burnout this year.

South Sydney Rabbitohs – 5^th

Whilst I don’t know much about their 2^nd-teir squad, they do seem to have lost a lot of depth after the 2013 season. Any injuries to their first grade squad would make things difficult for the Rabbitohs this year if that’s the case. Providing Greg Inglis can get through the season without any major injuries, I think they’ll still be in the running come finals time. Let’s hope the disappointment in coming so close so many times hasn’t got too much for the Rabbitohs.

Melbourne Storm – 6^th

In my opinion, the “Big Three” are getting too old to keep up with the young, fast teams. Any team with Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk will do well; I just think they won’t do as well as previous years. On a side note, I think Ben Roberts will thrive in the Melbourne Storm system and we’ll see some great things from him this year.

Manly Sea Eagles – 1^st

It pains me to say, but I think Manly will be Minor Premiers this year. The Grand Finalists don’t have many changes to their squad which means they would have started the 2014 pre-season fairly seamlessly. Providing they don’t have any ASADA drama’s they’ll have a very good year.

Cronulla Sharks – 15^th

I’m tipping a difficult year for the Sharks this year with the ASADA investigations continuing. Whilst they did well to not let it affect them in the 2013 season, I think it will all get a bit too much for them in the 2014 season.

Canterbury Bulldogs – 2^nd

I can’t believe I have 2 of my team’s (Parramatta) biggest rivals as 1^st & 2^nd but I think the Bulldogs will have a better year this year. With the Barba drama behind them, a CEO who seems to be doing great things for the club and a coach who has the “winning touch”, I think things will fall back into place for the Bulldogs.

Newcastle Knights – 7^th

I’m tipping no change for the Knights this year. The only thing that’s made me keep them in the top 8 is Wayne Bennett. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make the top 8 this year though.

North Queensland Cowboys – 11^th

The Cowboys seem to have half the Australian Squad in their team and still managed to only just make the top 8 in 2013. Ok, I may be exaggerating a little about the Australian Squad but they do have a lot of rep players. On paper they should be doing a lot better than they are and I’m predicting that 2014 is not going to be the year they return to the top.

Gold Coast Titans – 9^th

Other than Jamal Idris, there hasn’t been too much first grade talent lost for 2014 for the Titans. This is why I’m going to sit on the fence and say they’ll finish in the same position as 2013.

Penrith Panthers – 8^th

I think the Panthers are heading good places. I think they’ll do well in 2014, however I think this year will be a stepping stone for them. There are a lot of changes to the squad and once they spend a whole season together they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2015.

New Zealand Warriors – 12^th

The Warriors have shown that they can play if they want to; the key part being “if they want to”. They don’t seem to want to play for Matt Elliot which could see them end up further down the ladder than last year.

Brisbane Broncos – 13^th

The Broncos are another team that seem to have lost a lot of depth. I think they are in a rebuilding phase and it will be a few more years until they are competitive then. If Ben Barba can just concentrate on football in 2014, the Broncos could prove me wrong!

Canberra Raiders – 14^th

This was a really difficult one to predict. If the Raiders buy into the Ricky Stuart culture it could spell great things for the Raiders. If they don’t…well we all saw what happened at Parramatta. I’m not saying this as a disgruntled Eels fan as I am actually ok with Ricky’s decision to leave; however I don’t think being a Raiders legend will be enough for Ricky to make the Raiders a success again.

St George Illawarra Dragons – 10^th

Given the Dragons have bought half the Raiders squad they may be a slightly better chance at breaking the hoodoo against the Raiders which will give them 2 extra points this year. Providing Dugan stays focused and keep out of trouble, I think the Dragons will do better in 2014.

Wests Tigers – 16^th

Sorry Wests Tigers fans but it’s got to be somebody! I think the Tigers will do a good impersonation of the Eels this year. I think they’re still on their way down and haven’t quite hit rock bottom just yet.

 Parramatta Eels – 4^th

You may all laugh at me but I truly do think that my beloved Eels will improve dramatically this year. The main reason is because of Brad Arthur; the players want Brad Arthur. A new coach can see massive improvements in a sporting team, the Australian Cricket team is a prime example of this. I don’t want to set my hopes too high but I do believe the Eels will be in the top 8 this year.

It’s hard to tell how teams are going to do before we’ve seen any football played so it will be interesting to see how my thoughts change after the first 5 rounds.

Be sure to let me know where you think I’m dreaming and where you think I’m spot on in my 2014 predictions!

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Reflecting on Jon Mannah - by Mary

On Saturday, I spent some time reflecting on the life of Jon Mannah.  Jon passed away on 18 January 2013 from Hodgkin's lymphoma.  This weekend marked the first anniversary of his passing.
 
Jon started his NRL career at the Cronulla Sharks where he played from 2009-2011.  In 2011 he came back to the Parramatta Eels to join his brother Tim, who the next year would become captain of the team. 

However, the focus of this story is not on Jon's short lived NRL career, but simply on the tremendous individual that he was.

Jon was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2009. His battle with this insidious disease lasted 3 and a half years.  Following his diagnosis in 2009, Jon managed to fight his way back to full fitness and even managed to play another 12 games for Cronulla.

 
However, he had another relapse in 2011 while he was playing for the Wenty Magpies, finally losing his battle in January last year.    

Everyone who met Jon (including myself on a number of occasions) was absolutely inspired by his tremendous joy for life and his courage as he continued to fight with dignity and grace.  He tackled his diagnosis with such a positive attitude and filled people with such joy, no matter his condition.

He was a true gentleman and a role model for our game and the NRL is a much sadder place without his fabulous smile.

 
So wherever you are today, spare a thought for a gentleman that we have lost and for his family. Jon was taken far too soon.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Freddie Fittler and the Nines - By Mary

Last week I read in fascination as the League world debated the return of Brad Fittler.

For those of you who have been hiding under a rock for the last week, it has recently been announced that Brad Fittler is planning a comeback to play in the first ever Auckland Nines Tournament in February.

Many were delighted by this news (particularly Roosters fans). Brad Fittler is a true legend of our game. In his illustrious NRL career he played for two clubs - the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters. He played for City, New South Wales and Australia and captained the Sydney Roosters to their 2002 NRL Grand Finals. He is also one of the most experienced first graders our code has ever produced, having played 336 games.

Whilst I had a bit of a giggle when I heard that Freddie was coming back, on further reflection it has made me even more excited about the upcoming Nines Tournament (whether this is actual excitement about the Tournament itself or whether I am just waiting for Rugby League of any kind remains to be seen).

In terms of Freddie's return, as long as he feels his body is up to it - I welcome his return. He was an amazing player and it would be great to see him lace up his boots one more time. The Roosters are also playing the Eels in Round 1 of the Nines, so he may get the opportunity to ease himself back in.

All the talk about Freddie's return made me think about the possibility of each team brining back one retiree from their Club to play for the Nines and who I would select for each team.   

Brisbane Broncos - There is absolutely no question about it. If I could select one player to come back for the Broncos it would have to be Darren Lockyer. Lockyer retired in 2011 after a mammoth seventeen seasons for the Brisbane Broncos. A very talented player with the ability to create 'something out of nothing', Lockyer was also a wonderful example of a true gentleman of our game.

Canberra Raiders - Perhaps as a strategy to get him out of the commentary box, I should pick Laurie Daley for the Raiders. Daley was such a key part of the Raiders success in the early 90's, is it so unfathomable that he could possibly be an important part of a potential Nines victors in 2014?

Canterbury Bulldogs - True to my consistent picking of true gentleman, how could I go past Hazem el Masri for the Bulldogs. One of my favourite Bulldogs of all time (and I can assure you, there aren't too many), the Bulldogs could definitely use Hazem's kicking capability for the Nines.

Cronulla Sharks - While he would have to put off production of 'Escape with ET' for a little while, wouldn't it be wonderful to see ET's golden locks back on the playing field? One of the most celebrated players to ever play for the Cronulla Sharks, it would be interesting to see how much of his old pace he has maintained since leaving the NRL in 2000.

Gold Coast Titans - This was a little bit harder. As a newer club, the list of 'retirees' from the Titans isn't as long as that of many other clubs. That said, the player I would pick would be Mat Rogers. Not only was Rogers a dual code international, but he was an extremely entertaining player as well - perfect for the inaugural Nines competition. Unfortunately, the injury which plagued him in his very brief participation in the 2011 season might prevent him coming out of retirement for the Nines.

Newcastle Knights - Andrew Johns. Is any explanation really needed here?

New Zealand Warriors - Who better to captain the New Zealand Warriors in the Nines than Steve Price?

North Queensland Cowboys - Another player who might have their imaginary return to the Nines hampered by injury would be Ash Graham (another favourite of mine from his Parramatta Days). One of North Queensland's favourite sons, his career took on a new life once he left Parramatta to move up north. Another extremely entertaining player, it would be wonderful to see him flying high for the Nines Tournament.

Manly Sea Eagles - Could I pick anyone but Steve Menzies for the Sea Eagles. Probably one of the only Sea Eagles to be universally loved and respected, he was always renowned for his try scoring ability. I know he is still playing in his final season for Catalans, but he has technically retired from the NRL… right?

Melbourne Storm - Definitely Glenn Lazarus to add a bit of strength up front.

Parramatta Eels - As a Parramatta fan this was a difficult choice. I can think of so many players I would love to bring out of retirement (with Sterlo probably being too old to help solve any problems we might have in the halves). On closer reflection though, there is only one player I could choose - Nathan 'Hindy' Hindmarsh. Hindy is probably the most loved Parramatta player in history and there was genuine shock when he announced his retirement at the end of Season 2012, with many Parramatta fans hoping the old boy would have one more year in his tired, old legs. Hindy was brilliant in defence and always there to clean up a mistake or chase down a ball when Parramatta needed him. It would be great to see the old boy lace up the boots on more time.

Penrith Panthers - This selection is one for all the ladies out there. How could I go past Ryan Girdler for the Panthers?

South Sydney Rabbitohs - Another player whose return might be hampered by injury would be Mick Crocker. His return would certainly add some fire and a bit of mongrel to the South Sydney forward pack.

St George Illawarra Dragons - Matt Cooper. Again, one of my personal favourites. A very tough choice between him and Mark Gasnier.

Wests Tigers - Although technically not retired from NRL, I would love the opportunity to see Benji Marshall play for the Tigers one more time. There was genuine disappointment when Benji announced he was moving on last season, however he was undeniably one of the most talented players I had the pleasure of watching. His dynamic play would certainly only add to the Nines Tournament.

I've had a lot of fun writing this article. I would love to know who you would bring out of retirement for the Nines.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague

Footy season is on its way back! - By Mary

Here we are friends - 2014.

This is one of my favourite times of the year. Summer in Sydney is magic to start off with. The weather is magic, the cricket is on and the whole of Sydney shines for the Sydney festival.

It's also when the new year ticks over that you start to realise that the NRL season is not very far away. I was even more so reminded of this fact when my Parramatta Eels membership pack arrived today.
 

When I tore off the packaging of my membership pack (all with a ridiculous grin on my face), I felt a couple of feelings, but mostly an overwhelming sense of anticipation. Footy is on its way back.

While you could be forgiven for thinking that I wouldn't be looking forward to the 2014 season because of Parramatta's dismal results last year, you couldn't be further from the truth.  When I remember back to Season 2013, it is all beginning to become like a distant memory. I remember something about troubles at a board level, sackings and mass player movements…. but that was all so 2013.

 

It is a new year and a new season and with a new season come endless possibilities. While Parramatta might not be Premiership favourites, at this stage, anything is possible. Parramatta lost a lot at the end of last year, including some of my favourites like Matt Keating and Matt Ryan however, we go into Season 2014 with lots of new as well. This will be our first year with a new board, a new coach and new players like Will Hopoate, Nathan Peats and Liam Foran.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting more stories, giddy with excitement that NRL is returning.

I am perhaps most excited about this blog though. We will have a new website by the time the new season rolls around and this will be our first year where we will be blogging from season beginning to season end.

I hope you'll be there with me, every step of the way.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague