sidelined

Robert Finch is to step down his position as NRL referees coach at the end of the season. A welcome move as Finch has stymied the development of the refs. The only concern is if Harrigan gets the top job.

I stand by my contention that on the field, the refs more or less get it right and do very well in what is now a fast game. They do make mistakes but have been doing so since 1908. This biggest problem in the game is consistency. Petero deserved to be sent off last Monday. But so did a few other players during the season. For whatever reason, the refs are loathe to make such a decision and ended up with the farcical situation where two players should have been sent off during the Manly – East game. The next referees boss should come in, lay down the law early on the season (even it if means blowing the pea out of the whistle during the first few rounds) set the standards and maintain them for the season.

The video referee is the biggest problem. I contend that reviews should have a time limit. If after two minutes (for example) the ref has to make a decision. And I’m not averse to having former players involved in assisting with decisions. There are some good things that can be done here.

A lot of what fans go on in regards to refs is simply confirmation bias and selective memory. Over the season, it all evens out. And indeed, coaches use the refs to divert attention away from their failings. Des may want the refs to apologize to his players but is he game enough to have his players to apologize to their fans after such an insipid second half display last week?

Mark my words, the team that wins the comp will do it through their own hard work with maybe a little luck. The refs won’t have anything to do with it.

It is the final countdown. Rock onto the tips.

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You’d have to say the Bulldogs’ accountant would fielding a few offers from other clubs at this stage. Obviously the Doggies are good with numbers with the signing of Pritchard from the Panthers a big surprise. And not just for stealing him away from the mountains but in fitting him under the cap with the other buys. But good luck to the Doggies as they seem to be astute in their purchases. Now, if only the Eels can get Cooper away from rugby.

The penultimate round is upon on. The intrigue still runs hot as the final spots in the eight remain to be coveted by those who want them the most. The Roosters could bow out if they lost their final two games. And the Eels, Raiders and Bunnies still have some say in their respective fates. Let’s see where things will end up.

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It has finally happened. Bill Harrigan’s ego has finally got the best of him and Robert Finch has done what should have been done years ago, sacked him. In his day, Harrigan was a good ref until the ego overtook him and regarded himself bigger than the rules of the game.

And while the refs on the field make mistakes, that doesn’t worry me too much. The games is fast, the refs are human and the introduction of technology to decide little incidents during the game are nothing. The widespread belief between fans of the 16 clubs that the games are lost by the refs on the field is a disgruntled fallacy and the failure to acknowledge hat 99% of the time, teams are the arbiters of their own destiny.

But the video ref should be in a much better position. Generally the benefit of the doubt rule seems to work but Harrigan’s decision as well as the even worse one against the Bulldogs last year, show that even with technology mistakes will be made. Even when the video ref takes about 5 minutes and 20 replays to come up with a decision. The video ref system should be overhauled.

Firstly, there should be a limit to the number of replays. Make a decision after five or less. Games are ruined when players and fans suffer through endless repeats looking for that every so faint violation. Just get on with it. Also, the idea of including an ex-player up there may not be a bad idea. Some decisions seem to betray any notion that they refs understand the flow of how the plays unfold and end. Of course it may get crowded in the video ref box but they would be warm during the depths of the season.

Onto the this week’s tips and revealing who the Eels are death riding.

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At first, it was what manner of strange accounting enabled Inglis to move from News Ltd to News Ltd? But it seems that a significant part of the deal is made up of third party deals. That may not ease concerns about how the Broncos manage their salary cap not how other club CEOs handle their star players.

The advantage the Broncos have in third party deals is that they are the only club in town. Very handy when chasing corporate dollars. The Sydney clubs (via nature of competition for the same opportunities) and clubs in smaller cities have diminished opportunities. Still, a savvy CEO would build links to the local business community (and further) to top up the marquee players’ salaries.

But the transfer of Inglis and the involvement of News Ltd does create the sense of something amiss.

Onto the round of going through the motions for some, fighting to improve their spot in the eight for others and absolute last hope for a desperate few.

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A tale of two media companies. One has focused today’s reporting on news regarding progress in the establishment of an independent commission. The other lead with a picture of Jamal Idris wearing a police hat.

A silly photo of a player is much more preferable than reporting on how that organisation will no longer have a say in the game. Indeed, once News Ltd has existed rugby league along with the ARL, there is a real chance that the game can expand. It won’t all be easy and egos will fight for petty spoils amidst change but that is much more preferable that the current situation.

Onto this weekend where jubilation and despair both await our fortunes.

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While the cooler weather has not gone away there is that promise of spring in the air. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the soft sounds of cricket players dusting their whites and oiling their bats. Elsewhere, participants of the round ball game are attending acting classes in preparation for their season. But for us league tragics, the advent of spring means it is time to dust off our mathematical skills and plot the perturbations that will influence this season’s top eight.

11 teams are still in it and after some prognosticating via the NRL Ladder Predictor I had 4 – 7 all on the same points. Round 26 could be one exciting round. As round 21 promises to be.

Tips ahoy.
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With Ron Gauci appointed as the the new Melbourne CEO and the legal action against the NRL being dropped, maybe the beginning is in sight for the Storm. They still need to play this year out and sort out the roster for next season but it is time to be moving forward as some seem to say incessantly at the moment. Doubts, and reasonable ones, still linger regarding News Ltd’s role in all this. An positive outcome for everyone would the the setting up of the new independent commission to run the game. Outsiders may view what has happened as a blow to the game but we fans know that the game will pass this test in a better, stronger position.

And with some cracker games last weekend, the race of the finals is on. The distractions shall fade and league will show on the field why, like rock’n'roll, it will never die.

Ladies and gintlepongs, to the pits…errr…tips!
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On the train this morning, I ventured the following:

“It seems a common defense that when caught with the hand in the cookie jar or, as in this case, been caught giving out more cookies than allowed, to cry that you are the victim. That seems to be what the independent Storm directors are up to. You see, the tragedy is not that 3 out of 4 did not cooperate with the audit nor that it seems that the rorting was at a greater extent that initially realised. No, the tragedy is that the true protectors of the club are being persecuted.

I have no real love for News Ltd. They’ve been a blight on the game for about 15 years now. But it is time some of the Storm big wigs and their camp followers (yes Roy I’m looking at you) stop the crocodile tears and take responsibility for their part in this debacle.”

Of course, events have over taken me as the independent Storm directors have been dumped following the release of the findings from the audit.

Gallop rightly called the independent Storm directors out and criticized for doing nothing to prepare the club for 2011. The pain may not be over but the Storm can at least look to start rectifying their problems.

And this week, we have the Rivalry Round. I’m looking forward to the “You know, we are really indifferent about playing each other but will leave it up to marketing to produce something to hang the game on” round.

On to the tips that contain some fervent desperation. Be wary.
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Welcome to the 2010 NRL season. Sure, there have been 17 rounds prior to this but post-Origin is when the comp really starts. The wooden spoon will go to Melbourne and they will have plenty of space in the trophy cabinet now for the award. The Cowboys will be thankful that 2010 is the year they picked to have a very ordinary season. The Sharks, Raiders and Bulldogs have a mathematical chance of making the eight but a loss this weekend is effectively the end of their seasons. As for the rest, there is a real battle for 8 to 3. These spots are wide open and a good string of wins now will send a team up the ladder. At the top the Dragons have a bye this week but Penrith are coming for them. The Panthers have only won the minor premiership twice before. 1991 and 2003. And Mountain Boy won’t need any prompting in reminding us what Penrith won the big one as well both seasons.

Interesting times ahead.

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A fine way to discourage riff raff I’d say. Or could it be a loyalty test in that only true Queenslanders would pay 15 bucks for a XXXX?

And what of this game tomorrow night? One that I had almost forgotten about till mentioning it in passing to a colleague at work.

Queensland’s focus is on ensuring that NSW receive absolutely nothing from this series. And in front of a crowd made up mainly of the players families and some overly optimistic Blues supporters, they are odds on to do so. As for NSW, I have really no idea what they hope to achieve. Barrett is not going to suddenly find a way to impart his years of experience to Pearce in a week. In fact, Barrett robs NSW of blooding someone like Soward who, even if NSW get flogged, would have gained some valuable experience.

The trouble is with NSW is that they have been too afraid of failure. The chopping and changing of the side over the past few years have been testament to that attitude. There were also the puzzling tactics including an obsession with stopping Inglis that basically crippled the outside backs for the best part of Bellamy’s reign. And while the side for game three does have some nods to the future, it still reeks of some desperation. The pairing of Bird and Gallen is an attempt at intimidation that Queensland simply sneer at. They will not fear either player. They know that Gallen will do a ton of work but is susceptible to niggle and brain explosions and will give Queensland some cheap penalties to get them up the field. Verily it is part of the Maroons’s game plan.

For NSW supporters, this game will be a difficult on from which to gaze into the Origin future. It will be a new coach next year and if sanity prevails, new selectors. At best, we can hope for an indication of the Origin temperament from the likes of Snowden and Mannah. And even if NSW get done like a dinner by this great Queensland side, that may not be a bad thing. Out of such despair, the impetus for Origin redemption will be sparked in some of the players. And the right coach can stoke those embers into a raging fire of retribution.