Thurston has earned the right

According to the back page of today's Daily Telegraph, champion halfback Jonathan Thurston has sent shock waves through the Rugby League community with his declaration that he is considering switching to the 15-man game.

The article says that "Thurtson said he didn't share the same sense of lifetime loyalty to rugby league felt by Australian captain Darren Lockyer."

He is then quoted as saying "I could easily play rugby. I watch the Wallabies and a fair bit of it and I could certainly see myself playing the game ... I have to think about what's best for me, and if playing rugby is what's best for me, I'll take that option up."

Naturally, Thurston's talk of a defection has the fans riled up. How dare he, arguably the game's number one player, walk out on the sport that has given him everything?

Well quite easily, actually.

Passions aside, let's look at the issue objectively. Yes, Rugby League has been wonderful for Thurston. It has given him a fantastic career, limitless opportunities, a generous living and the honour of representing his state and country.

But Thurston has also been wonderful for Rugby League. He has repaid his debt by entertaining the fans. He has repaid his debt by helping to ensure Dairy Farmers Stadium is packed out every fortnight. He has repaid the faith of selectors at both the state and national levels with stellar performances for Queensland and Australia. He has inspired the younger generation of kids kicking footballs in parks across the eastern states to want to follow in his footsteps.

I certainly question Thurston's wisdom in wanting to leave a sport that is going from strength to strength every year for one that is in a shambles.

Rugby Union is a mess. The national team is a constant disappointment, our Super 14 teams aren't much better and consequently attendances and revenues are down. The administration seems clueless and even the messianic return of golden-boy administrator John O'Neill has failed to stop the rot.

But if Thurston wants to go there that's his choice.

Look at the positives. The amazingly talented Scott Prince will finally be able to step out of the shadow of being Thurston's understudy and get his chance to really shine. Up in Townsville the Cowboys will have money freed up to build a team, rather than assembling ad-hoc parts around the Thurston engine - look at what the Bulldogs were able to achieve with money left over after Sonny Bill Williams' departure. And Thurston himself will enjoy the grace of bowing out of the 13-man game while still on top.

So before everyone crucifies him for speaking openly about what is on his mind in regard to the future, remember the following: Thurston has given plenty back to Rugby League. He is also being honest now instead of fleeing without notice ala Sonny Bill Williams. And like all of us, he has a future to think about. At 26 he only has another 6 or so years to set himself up for that future.

Of course I'd love for him to stay in our game. But if he chooses to go I'll thank him for the memories and wish him well.

Gaw out.

Three Weeks is a Long Time in Rugby League

Indeed, in the world of Gaw's Rant just three short weeks ago, the Dragons had the minor premiership sewn up, the Cowboys were a finals certainty and Brisbane and Newcastle were gone.

How quickly things change.

St George have lost three in a row to surrender their lead on the minor premiership. Their alarming form slump has come at the worst possible time of the season and a loss this Friday could see them drop to third. North Queensland have fared worse. The Cowboys are now out of contention altogether after losing five of their last six.

In the meantime, the Broncos, who seemed gone for 2009 just three weeks ago, are enjoying a red hot winning streak and could finish as high as fourth if the Storm and Sea Eagles both go down in the final round.

One team I was right about are the Eels. Currently sitting in seventh place, they could also leapfrog Melbourne and Manly into fourth if results go their way. I get the impression however that Parramatta don't really mind if they get the home ground advantage in week one or not. They are brimming with confidence and are ready to take on any team, anywhere.

The race for the NRL premiership has never been more wide open.

St George's misfortunes have seen a resurgent Bulldogs claim top spot on the ladder however a potentially season-ending injury to chief playmaker Brett Kimmorley has the potential to make life difficult for the Blue and Whites.

And indeed the Dragons, whilst having lost three in a row do have the personnel to turn things around at any time. They face a huge game against Parramatta this Friday, the result of which will say much about how September football is going to play out.

With four wins in a row the Gold Coast Titans are well placed to challenge for their first title. A win against Manly at Brookvale this Saturday will do wonders for their finals confidence and could even see them finish in second place if the Dragons go down.

Melbourne have class all over the park despite not having really shifted into top gear yet this season. But if they're ever going to then finals time is when they'll do it.

Manly have booked their finals spot but have much work to do. They have the players to make an impact, having also welcomed fullback Brett Stewart back into their lineup.

The Broncos are one team to watch. At the beginning of the year I said they will be a finals force and I should never have doubted them.

Parramatta are the dark horse. In scintillating form, they will press for a grand final berth from wherever they finish in the eight.

Finally, the Knights have done well to keep in touch with the top eight however even if they win next week and book their place in the finals, I don't think they have the firepower to match it with the best and go all the way. Similarly, Penrith are not out of it yet but anything they've achieved this year is a bonus.

Having said all that, I was just as confident when I made my predictions three weeks ago. It will be interesting in three weeks time to see where I was right and wrong. The great game of Rugby League can be unpredictable sometimes, but that's what makes it such a spectacle.

Here Lies Australian Sporting Pride...

Australian sporting pride died last weekend.

Firstly, the Wallabies were pipped at the post by a New Zealand team who deserved a scoreboard more fitting of their superior performance. Then the Australian cricketers failed at The Oval, giving England their second series win in four years and making Ricky Ponting the first Australian captain to lose two series in England since the 19th century.

As a member of a generation brought up on national sporting triumphs, it's not an easy pill to take. Our teams have been down before, but always found a way back. They fought tooth and nail to be the best, and most of the time they succeeded.

Make no mistake, we are in a crisis.

For the Wallabies this is not new. Our national rugby team have been struggling for the better part of this decade after the the high of 1999's World Cup Triumph and settling for runners-up four years later. A changing of the guard has seen old stars retire and new players step up. The Robbie Deans era started well enough, with the Wallabies' performances last year showing some promise of what could be with a little hard work and determination.

This year that promise remains unfulfilled. The scoreboard on Saturday night actually flattered us - with the only try of the night coming from New Zealand, the All Blacks would have been right to be upset if a tryless team had beaten them. The rugby gods did the right thing in granting the late penalty that sealed their victory.

Meanwhile over in England, Australia's woeful performance in the fifth test had cricket fans in a deja-vu spin recalling the loss in 2005. Set a mammoth 2nd innings total, we were never in it, and the efforts of some of our players needs to be seriously questioned.

Those who read my blog entry after the Lords test will remember me saying how the seeds of that loss were sown when we were unable to seal the deal in Cardiff. Unfortunately the impact of those seeds lingered longer still - had we been able to take one final tail wicket back then Australia would have retained the Ashes, and probably would have done so in style.

What happens now? The media will dissect the failures of our cricket players, the issue of the Australian captaincy will again be the subject of discussion and the team will try to pick up the pieces in time to hopefully be competitive for the domestic summer.

As for the Wallabies, with their Bledisloe and Tri-Nations dream over for another year, their focus will again be on attempting to salvage some pride during the remainder of the international season. This position must be beginning to feel a little too familiar for them.

Australian sporting pride - Rest in peace.

The Race to the NRL Finals Heats Up

In what is turning into a showcase season (on the field) for the NRL, we are now only four weeks out from the finals with 12 teams still fighting it out for a spot in the eight. Is your club among them? Read on...

Positions one and two are all but sewn up. The Dragons have far and away been the competition's leading side in 2009. Sitting two wins clear and with a superior for-and-against differential than the second-placed Dogs, the red and whites would have to lose three from four to surrender the minor premiership, and will be the team to beat in September.

Despite a recent patch of worrying form the Bulldogs seem to have second place wrapped up, needing only two wins to stay put. But they will need to address some issues that have seen them lose to Parramatta and struggle against the Rabbitohs and Raiders in recent weeks if their finals campaign is to start on the right foot.

Three and four are where it starts to get interesting. Sitting on 30 points, the Gold Coast Titans have been doing the right things week in, week out and have everyone talking about how no one's talking about them. However the Melbourne Storm are only a point behind and still have plenty of firepower in their ranks to create something special.

Out of the top four there is a logjam for the remaining spots with only three points separating fifth from twelfth. Penrith are in at fifth on 25 points, the Cowboys, Tigers, Sea Eagles and Knights are all level on 24 while the Rabbitohs, resurgent Eels and the Brisbane Broncos are all on 22.

Alas eight into four goes not... so we can expect some fascinating footy over the next few weeks. The Panthers have surprised everyone with their form in 2009 but face up against four other teams all vying for a finals spot. North Queensland are starting to show glimpses of their potentially devastating attack potential with the Bowen-Thurston combination again the talk of Townsville. I expect them to be there come finals time.

The Tigers find themselves in finals contention at the right end of the year for the first time since their shock 2005 premiership win. However a difficult run home that includes matches against the Eels, Titans and Bulldogs means they have their work cut out for them.

Manly currently round out the eight and should account for the Roosters and Sharks in games against those teams, however also face the Storm and Titans in the next few weeks. The defending premiers' season will go down to the wire.

The Knights horror few weeks has seen them drop to ninth spot. The bad news is they face the Storm and Cowboys, plus the Raiders in Canberra over the next month. With their coach watching his calendar and the team lacking direction, I don't see them reinstating themselves in the top eight.

Nipping at the heels of the top eight, both South Sydney and Parramatta are playing good football at the right end of the year. The Eels have the potential to be a finals dark horse but have to get through the Tigers, Panthers and high flying Dragons first. The Bunnies have the Titans, Panthers and Dragons in their way and may have left their 2009 resurgence a little too late.

Lastly, the Broncos sit twelfth and are a mathematical chance, but face top eight sides in the Panthers, Dragons and Cowboys, followed by a rematch with the Canberra outfit that embarrassed them the other week. It would seem that for the first time in many years, Brisbane are not going to be playing September football.

Hence my top eight prediction is:

1. Dragons
2. Bulldogs
3. Storm
4. Titans
5. Cowboys
6. Sea Eagles
7. Tigers
8. Eels

An Act of War

I’m the Rugby League tragic who admitted a few weeks ago via this very blog to enjoying an AFL game. I thought I’d be the big guy and show some respect to what is arguably Australia’s biggest winter sport, even though its followers continue to thumb their noses up at our game.

That blog posting is now a distant memory. The AFL’s signing of Karmichael Hunt is nothing short of an act of war.

Andrew Demetriou and his cronies weren’t satisfied that they had it over us in sponsorship dollars. It wasn’t enough that they had higher ratings and in more parts of the country. They weren’t merely satisfied being able to gloat about their crowd numbers in a city where the weekend brings few other options of outdoor things to do.

They had to get their filthy mitts on our players. A Rugby League player signing with the AFL is unprecedented. A high profile player doing so raises the stakes.

Guy McKenna, coach of the Gold Coast AFL franchise that has secured Hunt’s signature has spoken of how he is looking forward to working with him and what he will add to their side. But let’s be honest here. It’s not about that, is it?

It’s about signing a Rugby League international. Whether Karmichael Hunt adjusts to AFL and plays well is not what has the AFL excited. It’s that they were able to get him. All of a sudden their greedy little hands will be trying to grab the likes of Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Jamal Idris. Not to strengthen their game but to try and weaken ours.

I wonder, does Karmichael Hunt realise he is merely a pawn in the AFL’s game? I’m not sure whether to resent him for signing on or feel sorry for him for being so naive.

The whole rotten affair is not surprising considering Demetriou’s tactics of trying to snare up our administrators at the urinals of ANZ Stadium. The man’s arrogance has no boundaries. Next he’ll be trying to dress up Clive Churchill’s grave with AFL paraphernalia.

Well, Rugby League hasn’t survived for 101 years by being weak and just taking it. If the AFL wants a war, then let’s bloody well give them one.

Gaw out.

The Tuesday Rant

"Don''t you mean Monday Rant?" I hear you say. Well, to allow for the Lords test to conclude so that I can rant about it I've left the weekend's wrap up for today.

Cricket

We start with cricket and the once proud baggy green, whose stocks are now falling exponentially. After failing to wrap up the first test in Cardiff, Ponting's men have now become the first Australian team to lose a test match at Lords in 75 years.

75 years.

Some are choosing to cling to the excuse of the questionable umpiring decisions which marred the early stages of our second innings. The fact is however, and Ricky Ponting has himself admitted that we were completely outplayed in every aspect of the game. The Australian team need to take a long, hard look at themselves and do some serious soul searching if we are to be any chance of retaining the Ashes.

Where did it all go wrong? While Mitchell Johnson had a handy second innings with the bat, his bowling in this test was woeful. If fit, Stuart Clark and Brett Lee must be brought into the team for game three. Another issue is Brad Haddin's wicketkeeping. He is no doubt a fine batsman but letting through 31 byes is not the standard of an international wicketkeeper.

Individual performances aside, the seeds of this loss were really sown in the final session of the Cardiff test. To be in such a commanding position and yet not be able to put England out of their misery on that occasion left the Aussies flat. By contrast, the Poms' Houdini-like escape had them floating high on cloud nine with a new belief and self confidence that they had Australia's number.

And did they ever at Lords.

Rugby League

It was another explosive, action packed and controversial weekend for Australia's greatest winter sport. The Bulldogs and Titans fought an interesting battle up at Suncorp, the Broncos horror run continued, while Penrith, Manly, the Warriors and Tigers all enjoyed wins. In the Monday night game, the Eels endured a Melbourne Storm comeback to chalk up an upset win at Parramatta Stadium.

The two talking points of the round were Brad Watts' "king hit" on Robbie Farah in the Tigers-Cowboys game and the Roosters decision to sign current Knights mentor Brian Smith for 2010 and beyond.

Since you all know how much I hate the Roosters, it should be no surprise that that is the issue I wish to discuss. The way the club has treated its "favourite son" Brad Fittler is nothing short of disgusting. However it should be no surprise considering that this is the Roosters.

It is clear that rookie coach Fittler was out of his depth. I said as such in my mid season summary. However there is a right and a wrong way to treat people. The board began negotiating with Brian Smith six weeks ago. Fittler knew nothing until this weekend. He has every right to be filthy about the way it has been handled and I applaud his declaration that he will end all official ties with the club after this season.

As for the players, finding all this out the night before their important match against the Warriors was less than ideal. They must all be wondering - if this can happen to Bondi Junction's favourite son, what could the club do to me?

Rugby Union

In the meantime over at Eden Park, the Wallabies remained unable to overcome the All Blacks at the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby for the 24th year. A promising start wasn't enough for the Australians, who made a meal out of a certain try in the 18th minute and then gave away several second half penalties for the Kiwis Stephen Donald to boot his side to victory.

With three games left to go this year it's not over for the Australians with chances in Sydney, Wellington and Tokyo to make amends, however coach Robbie Deans has some serious work to do.

That just about wraps up the Tuesday Rant - not the best weekend for Australian sport but at least the mighty Bulldogs are still going strong.

Gaw out.

Welcome Back, State of Origin, We've Missed You...

Last night's brutal State of Origin encounter left me grinning from ear to ear. And it wasn't just because the Blues won - yes that was part of it, but more so, it was because it was the first game in a very long time that felt like State of Origin.

My brother and I were discussing recently about how we missed the heyday of Origin. About how back then there was truly something special in the air around Origin time, how we looked forward for weeks to the series and about our excitement on game night. We agreed that while it was still an important part of the Rugby League calendar, it just wasn't the same anymore. It didn't have the same emotion. It was a contest but it wasn't a war.

Last night was a war.

The NSW coaching staff's tactic of having past greats address the team in camp paid off brilliantly. The Blues unit last night were unified and single in vision. Their mission: destroy Queensland. They were fuelled in part by pride and also by hatred for the maroon jumper. If last night's game was meant to be a dead rubber, somebody forgot to tell the Blues.

Special mention must go to Blues lock Anthony Watmough, whose inspiring performance ranked up there with the best of anything from the 80s or early 90s. Winger Jarryd Hayne, the standout player for NSW throughout the series, again proved why he will be an automatic selection for years to come.

Recalled half Brett Kimmorley put his Origins demons to rest, leading the field around the park brilliantly and never giving up in defence, including his brilliant 68th minute tackle on Queensland flyer Greg Inglis. Ben Creagh too was in fine form, while hooker Mick Ennis made a fine debut. Even Kurt Gidley, who I have famously been scathingly critical of, performed well with a fantastic tackle on Darius Boyd that summed up the physical nature of contest.

Queensland also provided some highlights. Justin Hodges' no-try in the 32nd minute almost deserved awarding for the effort alone. No doubt the footage will be used in Origin promos for years to come. Greg Inglis was everywhere - he is arguably the best player in the game right now and is freakishly still getting better.

The night however belonged to the Blues. If they can carry last night's form into next year's series then it truly will be game on. It's just a shame that we have so long to wait to find out.

Lastly, the game's management and the media are obviously frowning at the incidents which occurred in the final few minutes of the game. However, I put forth the view that it needed to happen. State of Origin is a war. In a regular NRL game, you need to be the better side in order to win. In Origin, it's about more than that. You have to dig deep. You have to throw yourself 110 percent into the encounter. You have to hate your opposition. You need to feel that emotion. And if that emotion spills into a blue, so be it. I'm glad that Steve Price is okay, but every player who took to that field last night did so in full knowledge that they were going into war. Every player was prepared for and accepting of the consequences. And as a veteran of over 25 appearances, Price knows that better than anyone.

There's an old cliched saying, "Rugby League was the true winner today". And as corny as it sounds, after a fantastic encounter that had it all - emotion, physical battles and enthralling Rugby League - NSW wasn't the only victor.

State of Origin football, too, was the winner last night.

The Monday Rant

Welcome to a new concept for Gaw's Rant - The Monday Rant! As well as my regular updates throughout the week on specific issues, I now intend to wrap up the weekend in sport every Monday. And what a weekend it has been!

Rugby League

Firstly to Rugby League, where on form a Canterbury-St George Grand Final is firming up as a real possibility. It would be the first time these two teams have met in a decider since 1985, and the first all-Sydney Grand Final since the mighty Bulldogs overcame the Roosters in 2004.

St George have stamped their authority on season 2009 with a comprehensive victory over premiers Manly, their standout player again being Jamie Soward. Across the Tasman meanwhile, the Bulldogs overcame the Warriors in Auckland with a significantly understrengh side to claim victory and prove they have the depth to go on with it in 2009.

In the meantime, Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten is on standby to fill in for Kurt Gidley in Wednesday's State of Origin should Gidley be unable to overcome a rib cartilage injury. And let's hope for the sake of NSW that Gidley doesn't play. I've said it before and will again that Gidley is useless. Conversely, Patten is the best fullback never to be picked for Origin. He deserves his chance, and there's no other man I'd rather have under the high ball than the General.

Cricket

Talk about an anti-climax. After dominating the first test for the first four and a half days, Australia was unable to put the final nail in England's coffin overnight. All our batting heroics have now meant nothing. The Aussie bowlers had over a day to put the Poms out of their misery, and were unable to do it.

The ability of our batsmen to score runs has never been a question, but I have serious doubts about the potency of our attack in the post-McGrath and Warne era. The Hilfenhauses, Siddles and Hauritzes of this world are capable, maybe even very good at times - however while watching the middle session last night I couldn't help but think that Pigeon and Warney would have torn through the England middle and tail with little fuss.

Motor Racing

After eight frustrating years, congratulations must go to Australia's Mark Webber for his long-awaited victory at the German Grand Prix overnight. Not since 1981 has an Aussie claimed top spot at an F1 podium, and Webber's run of bad luck and failure had most thinking we would be waiting a while still. It just goes to show that perserverance is everything. And while I'm not a motor sport enthusiast - all the same it's great to see an Australian at the top. Let's hope this victory is the first of many!

Health Warning: Selector-itis

Word has come from the World Health Organisation of a devastating new ailment: Selector-itis. According to a press release, the main symptoms include incompetence, stupidity and a lack of logical thought process.

The good news is that the general public are not being threatened by the disease. It only affects representative sporting selectors, but unfortunately, among them it appears rife. The disease if unchecked can be deadly - to the chances of our representative teams winning.

It has already claimed the life and dignity of the NSW Blues State of Origin team. And unfortunately, based on the fact that Kurt Gidley and Trent Barrett (and Jamie Lyon if he had not been injured) are still in the team for game three, it looks like selector-itis has more damage still to do.

Hopes that selector-itis had been contained were dashed last night when top Australian paceman Stuart Clark was left to carry the drinks in game one of the Ashes. Our best fast bowler being relegated to 12th man is clearly evidence that selector-itis has now infiltrated our national cricket selectors.

Luckily help in the fight came last night from an unlikely source, England's Kevin Pietersen whose brain explosion may just have slowed the effects of selector-itis, but with England at 7-336 after the first day of play, it is still not yet known what the longer term effect of the disease on our Ashes campaign will be.

More information will be made available about this epidemic as it comes to hand. Stay tuned.

The Greatest Contest of All

There's sport, and then there's sport.

Two and a half years after winning back the Ashes in a five-nil clean sweep, The Aussie cricket team is on the eve on their defence... and this series promises to be a cracker.

For the Aussies, much of the old guard is gone. Only four players remain from the side that last toured England in 2005. Greats such as Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are gone. In their place are a host of fresh faces, some of whom have already excelled at test level, and others with the promise to. Talk about being thrown into the deep end.

Brett Lee's unfortunate injury leaves Australia with a bowling attack who have never played a test on English soil. Much speculation is being made about these men; some have questioned if they are up to the challenge, while others have written them off already. I have no doubts about the ability of players like Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark to make an impact. Johnson in particular was fabulous last summer, while Clark has proven time and time again that he truly is a class bowler in the McGrath mould.

With the bat we have a fresh opening combination in Simon Katich and Phil Hughes. Katich is experienced and dependable, while Hughes is an exciting young player with limitless potential. He could very well be the anchor of Australia's test opening combination for the next ten years.

It's great to see Brad Haddin becoming confortable in the wicketkeeping role. Adam Gilchrist is a hard act to follow, however Haddin seems to finally relishing the role with the realisation that all that is expected is for him to play his own natural game. But much will depend on the form of skipper Ricky Ponting. We all know what he is capable of with the bat, however we also know that for him, runs have been elusive of late. Let's hope he can rediscover the spark that has made him one of the greatest batsmen of all time. I have my bets on the fact that he will.

As for our opposition, the English side are enjoying a high level of confidence. Fresh from victory against the West Indies and with stars such as Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in their lineup, the Poms are talking themselves up ahead of the first test. In my view it's a fairly even matchup. England are fairly confident but they're also underestimating what our young team are capable of.

One thing is for sure however, this series is going to be one of the closest we've seen. Bring it on!

A Great Game of Footy!

The footy game had it all.

The setup was epic - the two form teams finally facing off against one another. The game itself didn't disappoint. Huge hits. Monumental clashes. A war in the true sense of the word. The men in their trenches doing everything they could do to secure victory for their side.

An inspired comeback that almost came to fruition. And at the last, a battle scarred player literally putting his body on the line, throwing himself into the line of fire and coming off second best to try and save his team. It had it all.

The game I speak of was not a Rugby League game, my first winter sporting love.

It was the code of football I have often ridiculed and dismissed. It was the code I have often labelled as "girly", "stupid" and (no offence intended) "gay". I have called it "Aerial Ping Pong" and likened the play to pigeons squabbling over bread at the park. I am talking about Australian Rules Football.

Wow. I have admitted that I enjoyed an AFL game.

Now I will never relinquish my love of Rugby League, and still will watch it over the Melbourne code any day. But I do have new found respect for AFL. Yesterday's clash between St Kilda and Geelong was an exhilirating ride. It was everything sport should be - dramatic, unpredictable, hard fought and hard won.

Watching Harry Taylor throw himself at the ball to try and deny Michael Gardiner at the death echoed the heroics of some of League's biggest hits. Geelong's ill-fated comeback after being down early made me reminisce about the 1998 League prelimary final. The scrambling to claw points bit by bit, whether by grace or trying to win ugly, also struck a chord.

Has the AFL converted a new fan? I won't go that far. I am Sydney-bred and my love of League is more than just a winter pastime, it's part of who I am. For me the greatest rugby league games are still the most epic battles of all.

But I will think twice before "dissing" AFL so candidly next time, and may just flick my TV set over to Channel Ten on 26 September.

Stop the Madness!

In a big week of news across both rugby codes, Cronulla's Brett Seymour has been shown the door for another alcohol fuelled misdemenour while across in rah-rah land, Lote Tuquiri has endured a similar fate.

Seymour was ejected from Cronulla nightspot 2230 Bar & Lounge on Sunday night after drunkenly punching a mirror, after a March indiscretion at the same location which had left him on his last chance.

The Australian Rugby Union are remaining tight-lipped on the specifics of Tuquiri's case, with chairman John O' Neill refusing to delve into the specifics of his final indiscretion.

What I find interesting is that Seymour is now in the rugby league wilderness, without a club and possibly a future - while NRL clubs are licking their lips at the prospect of Tuquiri now returning to the code. If both players have seeminlgy commited sackable offences from their respective contracts, why is one being shunned while the other is courted?

Don't get me wrong, Tuquiri returning to league ranks would be a huge boost for the game on the field. However it's time to stop the madness. League has enough players whose extracurricular activities are damaging the game. We don't need another.

Perhaps the answer is whichever club ends up siging Tuquiri (that's if he doesn't choose to play rugby overseas instead) should write a "no chances" clause into his contract. That way he would know that one indiscretion is all it will take for a possible league return to be over.

As for Brett Seymour, unfortuantely he appears to be out of chances.

I Told You So...

Well, Origin II is done and decided, and as I predicted Queensland are the champs. I take no pleasure in being right. Like every footy-loving New South Welshman, I would have loved to see the Blues level the series in front of the home crowd at ANZ Stadium. But I knew in my heart that we didn't have the team to do it.

Queensland's early run of soft tries certainly didn't help. For the second time in as many encounters New South Wales were left playing catch up for most of the match. This extra pressure, rather than inspire the team, choked them. Dropped balls, poor options in attack and zero spark, save for Jarryd Hayne, easily the best in a beaten team.

NSW "saviour" Trent Barrett's only contribution was a high shot on Greg Inglis which will see him front the judiciary. Over-hyped fullback Kurt Gidley was competent if ordinary - thankfully he didn't make any dumb errors like in game one, however he didn't set ANZ Stadium on fire either, with sub-par goalkicking to boot. Peter Wallace too failed to make any kind of impact. I doubt he'll feature in game three.

So Queensland have made history with four successive series wins, and will be pumped to make 2009 a clean sweep in three weeks time up at Suncorp Stadium. If the Blues selectors don't make the right decisions that is precisely what will happen.

Barrett is gone, he will get up to three weeks for his high shot. Wallace too is likely to go. But if the selectors are serious, a few more changes are needed.

Foremost, I would get rid of Kurt Gidley. He has done nothing all series. Move Jarryd Hayne to his preferred spot at fullback. Joel Monaghan will man one wing with David Williams on the other. In the centres, Matt Cooper MUST be brought back. He has played Origin before, is still young and in good form. Michael Jennings should reclaim his spot if he has recovered from injury.

At five-eighth, I would give Jarrod Mullen the call-up he should have received at the start of this series. Brett Kimmorley should get the nod at number seven, I'd hate to lose him from the 'Dogs for a round but he is clearly the best man for the job. Goalkicking also gets handed to him.

Gallen can continue to lock the scrum. In the second row, Anthony Watmough should start, with the other position going to Luke O' Donnell, whose otherwise solid game last night was marred by one critical error. In the front row, Michael Weyman is an instant selection, with the other spot going to a returning Luke Bailey if fit. Farah retains the hooking spot - he had an ordinary game in Origin II but not a lot to work with either.

On the bench my first selection if fit would be Craig Wing. He spearheaded the Blues fightback in game one and can slot in anwhere from the backs to halves to hooker. I would also select Ben Creagh, Justin Poore and Glenn Stewart. Hence my team I believe is capable of avoiding a series whitewash in Brisbane reads as follows:

1. Jarryd Hayne
2. David Williams
3. Matt Cooper
4. Michael Jennings
5. Joel Monaghan
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. Brett Kimmorley (c)
8. Luke Bailey
9. Robbie Farah
10. Michael Weyman
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Luke O'Donnell
13. Paul Gallen

14. Craig Wing
15. Ben Creagh
16. Justin Poore
17. Glenn Stewart

"Queensland win 4 in a row"

At least that's what the headlines are going to say next Thursday. The selction of Trent Barrett at five-eighth for New South Wales will ensure it. The selectors got it wrong in game one when they overlooked the in-form Jarrod Mullen and opted for the talented yet erratic Terry Campese. And now they've got it wrong again, putting 32 year old has-been (or never was in my opinion) Barrett in the number six. Even Braith Anasta would have been a better choice. Or perhaps John Sutton. But not Barrett, who is in the twighlight of his grossly overrated career.

In the centres in the meanwhile, Matt Cooper has again been denied Blues colours while another horribly overrated player, Jamie Lyon, gets retained. It makes no sense. Cooper is a proven Origin performer who is currently playing great football at St George Illawarra. He is dependable in both attack and defence. And he wants to be there. You will recall Lyon's selection came after he expressed his desire not to play for NSW this year, before changing his mind and saying he'd play if selected, as if he was doing the team and selectors a favour.

It's not that I don't appreciate the position the selectors are in. I do. We are one down in the series. We have to win both remaining games, and now is not the time to blood young players. Then if they are serious, let's go for even more of an overhaul. How about sending Peter Wallace back to club football for the remainder of 2009 and reinstating Brett Kimmorley at half, who's done the job before and is in scintillating form this year? Age is obviously not a factor if Barrett is getting a run.

Of course the selectors won't do such a thing. The team is picked and barring injuries or suspensions the team picked will take the field next Wednesday as is. And when all is said and done after next Wednesday's game, maybe the selectors will finally learn and Mullen and Cooper will get callups for the third game. But Queensland will have already won the series. Too little too late.

NRL at the halfway point – Your team’s report card

Wow. Who can believe the NRL regular season is already half-over. It seemed like only yesterday that round one brought the first fix of 2009 for the rugby league faithful.

So here we are after 13 rounds of football. We've seen spectacular tries and individual and team heroics. We've celebrated our clubs' victories and we've endured the bitter taste of defeat. The NRL has been rocked by fresh controversies both on and off the field. Coaches have been under siege, while other coaches have prospered. New stars have emerged and with them new teams are announcing themselves as genuine premiership threats. So far 2009 has had it all.

So where does your team fit into the 2009 season? As usual I will analyse club-by-club, but this time I will start with those clubs in the top eight. My reasoning here is my belief that barring one or two exceptions, the finals mix is already taking shape. The teams currently in the eight are likely to be there come September, though not necessarily in their current order.

So here we go, in current placing order...

St George Dragons

The Dragons have been arguably the form team of the comp so far this season. Jamie Soward has led the team around the park brilliantly, and performances by origin debutants Justin Poore and Michael Weyman, together with Darius Boyd excelling at his new club have lifted the side significantly. Look for a top four finish and provided the red and whites don't get stage fright, perhaps this is the year that elusive premiership returns to Kogarah.

Canterbury Bulldogs

The mighty Doggies have bounced back from last year's disappointing wooden-spoon finish with a vengeance and are now firmly entrenched in the finals race. Dubious decisions have robbed the club of four premiership points that would otherwise see them clear at the top of the ladder, however the side has managed to put these trivialities behind them and focus on what they do best – winning football games. Brett Kimmorley, Mick Ennis and Ben Hannant have been sensations for the club, inspiring more long-term clubmen to bring out their own best once again.

Gold Coast Titans

Yet again the NRL newbies find themselves at the top at this stage of the season. The difference this year though is the training wheels have come off and the Titans now know how to win games without Scott Prince. Forwards Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi have been sensational, while Mat Rogers is enjoying arguably his best season since his return to the NRL. Watch out for the Titans in 2009.

Brisbane Broncos

The Broncos have shrugged off the loss of former coach Wayne Bennett and several stars in the off season, winning eight out of twelve games to enjoy an equal share of the lead. Not that it was going to be any other way. As I said in my season preview, Brisbane don't go badly – It just doesn't happen. Watch for the likes of Hunt, Folau, Lockyer, Wallace and Thaiday to keep excelling and for Brisbane to be right there at the end of the regular season.

Melbourne Storm

After a shaky start to the year the Storm have begun to display signs of the football club they are capable of being. More consistency is needed though – the Storm will destroy anyone on their day as evidenced by their recent wins over Canberra and Brisbane, but dumb football has started to leak into some of their performances this year and that will need to be addressed in the second half of the season. Expect the Storm to finish comfortably in the eight, but there are too many good sides this season to say the Storm can definitely win it.

North Queensland Cowboys

Finally the beast may again be emerging. For years we have watched the Cowboys sputter and disappoint while knowing their roster is capable of so much more. As at the conclusion of round 13 North Queensland are sitting in sixth, having beaten premiership leaders St George and along the way shown some returns to form among key players. Whether they can improve enough to be a genuine threat, it is too early to tell.

Penrith Panthers

One of this season's biggest surprises, Penrith are firmly entrenched in the eight after having played some fantastic football. Young guns Lachlan Coote and Wade Graham are enjoying tremendous form, whilst Luke Lewis is playing his best football for years. Michael Jennings too is performing sensationally, having earned a NSW jumper for his efforts. Where the Panthers go from here is unknown – some are calling them genuine contenders but like with the Cowboys, it is still a long season before the start of finals football.

Newcastle Knights

Another big success story in 2009 is the resurgence of the Knights as a potential finals side. Sitting on sixteen points after eight wins, it would seem Brian Smith's long term plan for the club is starting to bear fruit. Kurt Gidley's sensational club form has seen him captain a NSW Origin side that teammate Jarrod Mullen was unfortunate to be omitted from. And as to whether the club is missing Danny Buderus – the answer is a firm no with recruit Isaac De Gois performing admirably in the number nine.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Souths have managed to keep mostly in touch with the eight but are yet to prove their credentials to join it. As usual Nathan Merritt has been sensational, as has reborn utility Craig Wing. The Bunnies have banked five wins and a draw to their 2009 account, but will need to win more than they lose from here on in if they want to figure in the equation at the business end of the year.

Manly Sea Eagles

After a horrid start to the year, the Eagles are starting to string some important wins together and are possibly the only team currently outside of the eight with legitimate premiership credentials. The personnel from last year's grand final winning team are mostly intact, and provided Manly can keep their newly rediscovered belief they will be a team to watch out for.

Canberra Raiders

Canberra have had a mixed season thus far. Again their big weakness is their away form; at home they have been impressive however on the road they continue to falter. You can however expect Terry Campese to return from origin fired up and inspire the Raiders to a few more big wins this year – but if they don't begin their charge soon then I'm afraid they'll be in the grandstands come September.

New Zealand Warriors

Another disappointing season of inconsistent and indifferent form. The Warriors promised so much this year after making the finals last year and welcoming star Stacey Jones back into the fold for 2009. Since then it's been the same bad old New Zealand, showing patches of form but winning only four games out of eleven starts. Question marks hover over the decision to relegate the in-form Nathan Fien to make way for Jones, however if that was their only problem they'd be in a better position than they are now.

Parramatta Eels

Parramatta are all about 2010 now. The resignation of chief executive Dennis Fitzgerald is evidence that change was needed; and the signings for next year of Justin Poore and Shane Shackleton suggest that the future is where the club's concentration lies. The Eels have had a disappointing year – indifferent form and Brett Finch's walkout not helping the side's fortunes. One positive has been the resurgence of Jarryd Hayne, but one man alone cannot play for the whole team. Sorry Eels fans, but you may as well turn your TV sets off until next March.

Wests Tigers

Well, Benji Marshall has stayed on the field all year and the Tigers still find themselves near the bottom of the table. As always, they've shown glimpses of what they're capable of with the football but again have also shown just how dumb they can be. 2009 will be chalked down as another disappointing season of inconsistent form, with the promise of improvement next year. Tigers fans are however starting to grow weary as the seasons roll on.

Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla players and fans would be forgiven for thinking they're stuck in a horror movie. Poor early season form, coupled with the New Zealand sex scandal, the club's financial woes, Reni Maitua's positive drug test and now the standing down of chief executive Tony Zappia. It can't get any worse in the shire. It doesn't help either that the players are unsure what to even play for – they may not have a club anymore come September. At least they're not coming dead last.

Sydney Roosters

The Roosters are gone for 2009, and coach Brad Fittler will gone soon too. The appointment of "assistant" coach Arthur Beetson is evidence the club board don't believe Fittler has what it takes – and only three wins from twelve starts is the proof. Thank god for their fickle latte sipping fans that the Swans are at least in the AFL eight.

Position Vacant: NRL Referee. No Experience/Talent/Sense Needed

Another weekend of rugby league and another circus of dubious decisions. A week after the Bulldogs were cheated out of two points against the Dragons, round 11 provided yet more evidence that the NRL needs to seriously look at the standard of its referees.

Firstly, there was the Souths v Parra game. After 80 enthralling minutes of football, fans were cruelly robbed of an exciting finish when referee Brett Suttor called time as Souths attempted to feed a scrum seconds from full time. The match ended with a draw. Whether Souths would have turned this play into anything or not is not the point.

Then in the Wests Tigers v Brisbane game, the Campbelltown punters were left fuming with the controversial sin-binning of inspirational captain and half Benji Marshall at a crucial point late in the second half. The Broncos won 20-18.

The icing on the cake came in Sunday's clash between Manly and the Gold Coast at Skilled Stadium. Matty Orford would have been right to think he had the game all but wrapped up after his 75th minute field goal. That was until three minutes later when he was penalised in front of the posts for apparently taking out Titans fullback Preston Campbell in another dubious decision. Scott Prince added the extras and the Gold Coast won by a point.

In his post match interview Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler declared "“Week-in week-out we are discussing similar issues, similar situations and it is time something was done about it; The game is professional, the officialdom isn’t."

Hasler is right. All the games above were close games. Contoversial decisions decided their fate.

The role of referees should be to ensure that games are fair, fast and flowing. It is up to the two sides on the park to determine the result. When every round starts to bring with it yet more blunders and officiating errors, it is clear something needs to be done.

In recent weeks Rugby League has been the unfortunate subject of too much bad press and controversy from incidents that were out of the NRL's control. It's about time they did something about the one issue that clearly is within it.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

So today's blog covers three separate issues across three different sports. The good, the bad and the ugly. So let's get to it.

The Good: Sport can be cruel. Just ask the NSW Waratahs. The team embarked on its tour of South Africa needing to win three games from as many starts to remain in contention for rugby's Super 14 finals. They performed admirably, winning all three games as required in a champion effort. Luck however was to have to have the final say on their 2009 campaign, with the Crusaders win over the Blues leaving the Waratahs cruelly short of the finals. Just five points in their for-and-against differential made the difference, with NSW missing out on the finals but capturing the hearts of the sporting public with a fantastic tour, and three wins they can be proud of. So here's to the Waratahs, and wishing them every success in 2010. They won't be champions on the table but they are champions in our hearts.

The Bad: Australia's cricket selectors announced the touring party for this year's Ashes series today. For the most part the team picked should do the job admirably, and I for one look forward to seeing them succeed in the series. However, the decision to omit Andrew "Roy" Symonds is just plain dumb. To add to the idiocy, injury prone disappointment Shane Watson has again been included. This is a player who showed glimpses of greatness YEARS AGO, and hasn't been fit enough to repeat said feats for as long as most people's memories can reach. Symonds is a proven match winner. When the chips (or top order) are down, Roy is one of those gifted players who can make something out of nothing. He has saved Australia many a time with a brilliant innings just when it was needed. His experience and flair will be sorely missed. Let's hope Watson's battered body can hold up for more than one match this time, and then perhaps he can one day claim to be half the player that Andrew Symonds is.

The Ugly: Just what the NRL's Cronulla Sharks did not need. Already reeling from the New Zealand sex scandal and teetering on the edge of financial oblivion, the Sharks now have to contend with the positive drug test and subsequent provisional banning of second rower Reni Maitua. He has tested positive to the banned substance Clenbuterol, a performance enhancer. Maitua has shown patches of brilliance throughout a turbulent career in which he has made more headlines for his troubles off the field than his exploits on it. Cut from the Bulldogs at the end of 2008 for repeated misdemeanours, he was thrown a lifeline by Cronulla. Now he has betrayed their faith. Maitua and the Cronulla club now await the results of his "B" sample test - if it too is positive, he faces a lengthy ban which could signal the end of his career. It's such a shame for a player who showed so much promise early in his career.

That's all for today - you heard it here.

I'd like to report a robbery...

That's right. I'd like to report a robbery. In the 79th minute of last night's clash between Canterbury and St George, the Bulldogs were robbed of a fair try and a victory, and rugby league was robbed of some of its credibility.

Yes I am a Bulldogs fan. I was at the game and experienced the rollercoaster of emotions as the Bulldogs came back from a 14-0 deficit to be trailing 20-18 at the death, scoring what should have been the match winning try with 30 seconds remaining. With the rest of the blue and white supporters I cheers and clapped. And then the unthinkable - the try was disallowed and my joy turned to disappointment.

I think of myself as a good sport. So I declined an opportunity to join the bottle throwers and quickly exited the ground and made my way home. The try had been disallowed due to a shepherd and the Bulldogs had lost. I accepted it. Then this morning I read this:

http://www.livenews.com.au/sport/league/video-ref-got-bulldogs-try-decision-wrong-finch-admits/2009/5/16/206718

So what happens now? Video referee Steve Clark gets a slap on the wrist. He might miss next weekend's round. But the Dragons still have two competition points that should belong to the Bulldogs. That won't change.

Come September, those two points could mean the difference between a home semi-final or not. God forbid if Canterbury's season takes an ordinary turn, those two points could be the difference to even make the top eight. Those two points were earned fair and square. And those two points were denied.

That's why I'd like to report a robbery.

Matthew Johns

I guess every man and his dog has an opinion on the latest saga to envelop rugby league, ironically involving the older of the celebrated Johns duo less than two years after brother Andrew's own public controversy. The circumstances are different – whilst Andrew was caught red handed with ecstasy and subsequently admitted to years of drug abuse, Matthew stands accused of participating in group sex with a consensual female participant. He has been hung out to dry by story hungry journalists – a life and career destroyed over an incident that in my view, he should only be answerable about to his wife.

So the facts are that seven years ago Matthew Johns was in New Zealand with the Cronulla Sharks. Whilst there he participated in (some say instigated) a "gang bang" – whereby a young lady consensually participated in group sex with a number of Sharks players. In retrospect this lady has come to regret her actions, which is not unexpected. However, this was not a sexual assault. Matthew Johns broke no law.

In contrast, the game's most celebrated halfback, Jonathan Thurston continues to be admired and revered five years after allegedly participating in a sexual assault in Coffs Harbour. This allegation was never proven, however for Matthew Johns there was never a legal wrongdoing to prove.

As I have said, he DID cheat on his wife – which is not an admirable act – however that makes this matter between them. After the incident Johns came clean to his wife, they sorted out whatever they needed to and the matter should have ended there.

Now all of a sudden Matthew Johns finds himself very alone. He has overnight become the poster boy for sexual deviance in the NRL. In the process he has been stood down from Channel Nine and his part time role with the Melbourne Storm. He has been crucified by Four Corners, a Current Affair and the newspapers. No other footballer is bearing the brunt of this like he is.

I hope the journalists are happy that they have destroyed a man in the pursuit of viewers and readers.

Gaw Uncensored... the exclusive scoop!

Greetings blog-land. Thankfully a little less time has passed since my last blog, than it and the one previous. This is one of those random blogs where ideas pop into one's head and you feel the need to get it all down before it pops out again.

So to give you all an idea of where I'm at right now. I've realised that despite my best intentions the day I registered themightygaw.blogspot.com I have lost my blogging way. That's right. Three entries in a year is hardly going to cut it, especially for a dude who calls himself a writer. Folks, I'm afraid you gotta actually DO what you say you do... so in-between the three posts I actually have done this year I've been a Marketing Manager, a short-lived National Business Development Manager (don't let the title fool you, read telemarketer) and now a somewhat bum who rewrites boring frontline management courseware a few days a week for some cash while dreaming of much more.

Anyway back to the point of the blog is I made a few errors, being:

1. I kept waiting for something topical to write about rather than sitting down and forcing myself to think of ideas
   
2. I kept myself too busy socialising, drinking and carrying on, leaving less time to write
   
3. I used my imagination for EVIL and detriment rather than where it could get me something (that's right, when you have a mind as creatively brilliant as mine you DO NOT waste it on inventing fictional towns that don't exist and drawing maps of it inclusive of tourist attractions)
   
4. I disobeyed one of the number one rules of social media – that is people want to know about YOU (as in, me in this case)
   

So, all that having been said from here on in all 2 of the people who actually subscribe to this blog (as well as my friends on facebook where it feeds to – sorry guys, you thought I was somewhat normal) will get ME when they read it. Uncensored and unrated. I can't guarantee it will be able to compete with Barney Stinson in terms of scandal but we'll see how we go.

To the Blog-mobile!

NRL 2009 Season Preview!

NRL 2009! It's one week away. The triumph and heartache. The big hits. The runaway tries. The epic battles. The race to be the best. How will your team fare in the coming season? Here are my predictions, warts and all, for the coming rugby league year. Let the battles begin!

 

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

The only factor standing between the Sea Eagles and back to back premierships is unfortunately a huge one – history. Not since Brisbane in 1992-93 has a team achieved the feat. Manly are certainly in a good position to buck the trend; their premiership winning team is mostly intact, having lost the Beaver, Steve Bell and Luke Williamson but picking up the handy talents of Chris Bailey and Tony Williams. However it will be important for Des Hasler's team to focus entirely on 2009 – It is a new year and last season's glories need to pushed aside and the team focussed on winning games week by week. If they do that the potential is certainly there for the Sea Eagles to be smiling once again come October.

 

North Queensland Cowboys

Last year I was bang on when I said injuries to either Jonathan Thurston or Matty Bowen would spell disaster for North Queensland. They have disappointed repeatedly ever since their sole grand final appearance in '05 and I don't expect this year to be any different. Some good buys in key positions will help their performances this year, as will a new coach in Neil Henry but I still shake my head whenever I read a so called "expert" rating them as a top four chance. With a light injury toll the top eight is possible but if either Thurston or Bowen goes, so will the Cowboys' chances.

 

Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla enjoyed a much improved year in 2008 compared to the previous season. This year however is uncertain; while they have bought impressively in the forwards, adding the likes of Reni Maitua, Anthony Tupou and Corey Hughes to their ranks, they have lost a huge amount of experience in Brett Kimmorley, who enjoyed one of his best seasons last year. Trent Barrett returns from England to fill the void but let's face it – he is as overrated as I used to say Kimmorley was until his fantastic season last year. The Sharks should make the eight but that elusive premiership their fans have been wishing for will remain so a while longer.

 

South Sydney Rabbitohs

After a fairytale season in 2007, last year Souths returned to being... well, Souths. It was the bad old days again for many Rabbitohs fans as the team stumbled, sputtered and fell short of the eight. Some promising signs did occur in the second half of the year with rookie Chris Sandow impressing in the number seven jumper, corresponding with some red and green victories; if the Bunnies can get on a roll like that in 2009 and keep it going, they should enjoy a better year. A premiership is still quite a few years away, but a top eight finish is not impossible.

 

Parramatta Eels

Touted as contenders at the start of last year, the Eels endured a disappointing season. Their woes around Tim Smith certainly would not have helped; this year they've had some time to adjust and a new coach in Daniel Anderson. The Parramatta lineup is still star studded with names like Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, Feleti Mateo and the ever-working Nathan Hindmarsh; leaving no excuses if they don't redeem themselves somewhat in 2009. If the team can display the same dedication their long-suffering fans have done since the mid 80s, then the end of the regular season should see them in the finals mix.

 

Sydney Roosters

All the buys in the world last year and the Roosters realised that the one thing a chequebook cannot buy is a guaranteed premiership. This year they are without Anthony Tupou and Amos Roberts, and have not bought anyone new of note to fill those voids. One must also wonder why, after Braith Anasta finally played a season deserving of his hype in the number six jumper, coach Brad Fittler is talking of switching him to lock this year. Let's hope he does, because I for one want to see the Roosters losing week in, week out and crashing out of the title race. Realistically they should still squeeze into the eight. That's the nicest I'm going to be.

 

Wests Tigers

The Tigers surprised everyone in 2005 when they won the title. Many thought it was premature. Nobody at the time could have known how premature. While sometimes brilliant in attack, Wests' main problem is their lack of a structured game; something former halfback Scott Prince took with him to the Gold Coast. At times the Tigers are beautiful to watch with the ball; at other times plain frustrating. Benji Marshall's battered body is again a factor this year with their chances too closely tied to how many consecutive weeks he can give at a time. Robbie Farah is world class out of dummy half, but until the Tigers can find a safe and reliable game controller, they're destined to keep ending up disappointed in September.

 

Canterbury Bulldogs

The only way is up. 2008 was a forgettable year for the Dogs. It is widely agreed that they have been the smartest purchasers this year and that should translate into on-field success. Morris will add fire in the centres, Brett Kimmorley will add structure and a much needed kicking game, while up front the former Bronco trio of David Stagg, Ben Hannant and Michael Ennis will once again make the Dogs forward pack one to be feared. Add the returning Luke Patten to the mix along with youngsters Jamal Idris, Ben Barba and Heka Nanai. The superboot of Hazem El Masri and the leadership of the evergreen sportsman Andrew Ryan round up a Dogs lineup that is hungry, skilled and ready to win the big games. A return to the Dogs' rightful place in the top eight is imminent.

 

Gold Coast Titans

Everyone's second favourite team has for two years running been in a strong position mid-season before crashing out of top eight contention. Their on-paper lineup is a finals football team with world class players such as Preston Campbell, Scott Prince, Anthony Laffranchi and Luke Bailey. The factor that rugby league conversations across the nation agree on however is the Titans' lack of depth, something that will again be a factor this season. Gold Coast deserve to be in the finals. Whether they make it there or not will again, unfortunately, be at the mercy of their injury toll.

 

St George Dragons

The red and whites have lost Mark Gasnier, Josh Morris and Jason Ryles but picked up supercoach Wayne Bennett. They've also gained some handy experience in new signings Luke Priddis, Jeremy Smith and the returning Matthew Head. Last year the Dragons impressed with a finals finish no one had tipped; in 2009 a return to Kogarah along with a new regime should see them there again. To be realistic they won't progress much further though.

 

Penrith Panthers

It's been six long years since the glories of 2003 and some out Penrith way must be wondering if they'll ever taste it again. Sorry guys but not this year and not in the foreseeable future. Penrith have lost too much experience from a side that failed last season anyway. Their coach is a self-confessed "dead man walking", their halves have barely a season of game experience between them and no one of note has been brought on board to make an impact in 2009. Matthew Elliott will be the first coach to go this year and unfortunately for Panthers fans, Penrith will finish with, or near the spoon.

 

Canberra Raiders

Every year it's the same story. The Raiders are gone before a ball is even kicked, they say. They've lost too many experienced players, they say. Wooden spoon certainties, they say. Every year they are wrong. The Green Machine don't tend to listen to "they" or anyone else but their own self-belief. And that belief got them into the top eight last year. Having said all that, there have been quite a few departures in the off-season. But if the talented Terry Campese repeats his 2008 form in the number six, the Raiders will be very dangerous indeed. Classy winger Joel Monaghan will too be ready to fire after his international duties at the end of last year. Where Canberra finish this season will be up to them.

 

Brisbane Broncos

The Broncos have lost a wealth of talent in the off season. Their coach since their induction into the top league has also now departed, a rookie taking his place. This would suggest that 2009 may be a difficult year. Two factors however will ensure that Brisbane will go well this season. Factor one is Israel Folau. The big, classy centre still has his best football ahead of him, and you can expect to see him step up even another notch within the freedom of the Broncos backs. Second point. This is Brisbane. When have they ever had a bad year? They still have Darren Lockyer anchoring the team, Thaiday up front and look for Peter Wallace to build on his impressive displays last year – after all, he has an origin jumper to play for. Once again the Broncos will be top eight.

 

New Zealand Warriors

Always the difficult side to pick. The Warriors have for the last few seasons shown glimpses of greatness interspersed with plain dumb losses and losing runs. 2008 saw them begin to develop a sense of consistency; if they can carry this into this year then a very successful season could be imminent. The return of Stacey Jones will ignite a Warriors team that has always been brimming with talent but as yet unable to fully realise it, and while elder statesman Ruben Wiki will be missed, young guns Joel Moon and Liam Foran will add a new exciting dimension to the Warriors attack. A good start to the year is essential however if New Zealand truly want to make their mark on 2009.

 

Melbourne Storm

All good things must come to an end. Melbourne's three years of NRL dominance came to a crashing half in last season's decider when they were convincingly, thoroughly and embarrassingly routed by the rising Manly Sea Eagles. It is the natural order of things; you cannot stay at the top forever particularly when the salary cap starts to bite and the talent starts to bleed. Israel Folau, Mick Crocker and club legend Matt Geyer are gone for 2009 but the Storm do still have some of the best on their books so will by no means fail this year; on the contrary, being the ones chasing the title rather than defending it may again invigorate them. They still have arguably the best coach in the game and the ability to turn unknown Queensland juniors into superstars – so write Melbourne off at your peril.

 

Newcastle Knights

After spending 2008 in a rebuilding phase the Knights will hope to string a few more wins together this season and challenge for the eight. The departure of Danny Buderus leaves not much of the old guard left. This spells a potentially exciting few years to come at the club, however this year I believe they are still too fresh, too green and too inexperienced to be a threat. Much of their prospects will also hinge on Jarrod Mullen. After an impressive 2007 he will want to forget a 2008 which was spent largely on the sidelines as he attempts to fight his way back into a Blues jumper. You can however expect the exciting Kurt Gidley to have another fantastic year, but his talents and performances alone will not be enough for the Knights to emerge victorious in this particular battle.

 

Going in to Bat for Matty Hayden

Greetings Blog-land.

Those in Australia who have been following the Test Series with South Africa would be well aware that Aussie opener Matthew Hayden is under enormous pressure to retain his spot. In the papers, both journalists and letters from readers are calling for his head. Online it is much the same. I'd like to take this opportunity to side with Haydos.

By doing so I'm not saying that any Australian player should be an automatic inclusion in the Test XI. A baggy green cap is the greatest honour any cricketer in this country can ever have bestowed upon them. It is a privilage that must be earned, not just initially but must be continually earned throughout a test player's career. Hayden has struggled this summer, he himself knows it and his place in the team is under threat. There are young guys coming through who are all more than able to handle the pressure of the test arena. They are the future.

So I'm not saying Hayden should automatically be picked in the February squad for the return series in South Africa. The point I would like to make is about the fickleness of the sport following public. One of the greatest test batsmen we've ever had the privilige of watching is struggling and what was once admiration and accolades from supporters has turned to venom and unkind swipes.

Don't forget people, that this man has played 103 Test matches for Australia, scoring 8625 runs at an average of 50.74. He has scored 30 Test centuries. The man deserves a little more respect. People seem to have forgotten a little too easily about all the times they cheered him on, whether at games or glued to their television sets as Haydos punished whatever attack he was facing with precision, skill and raw talent.

So before calling for the man's head, please, remember what he has done for Australian cricket. Remember too he is a human being, and all the negativity in the media and from fans isn't helping him in his quest to find some form.

Have a great weekend,
Gaw

First Blog

Greetings Blog-land. Gaw checking in for what I hope will be the first of many informative, humourous and sometimes downright-odd observations and reflections.

It's a lovely summer's day outside in Sydney. The sky is blue, the sun is shining and I may just have to go to the beach at some point.

So why have I set up this blog? Hmmm, let's see. Well, for someone who prides himself on being fairly in touch with technology and the "latest thing", I have been quite a laggard in the world of blogging. Yeah I've been on Myspace (last one out please turn off the lights), am on facebook and have just signed up with Twitter. Strange though that I haven't turned to to regular blogging earlier as i am a writer. This is what I do.

So to that end hopefully you can expect a mixed bag of commentary in this here blog, covering a range of topics. I hope you enjoy!

Cheers
Gaw 12:13pm 6 Jan 09