Let’s get the wing tackle issue out of the road. Yes, the tackle may have been legal but it was a cheap shot and a cowardly deed. Those defending the tackle, hiding behind the laws of the game (now changed), need to let the spirit of the game wash over them and cleanse their footy soul. Yes, league is a hard game but there is a line between a hard, fair tackle and a grubby, low act like the one of Riley Brown.
Now that is off my chest, how could anyone not feel for Benjie Marshall? The poor lad is out for up to eight weeks with a knee injury. The one consolation is at least it wasn’t his shoulder.
And how long will the Dragon’s coach Nathan Brown last? One more loss and it will be his head. I like the Dragons’ outfit on paper but they seem to have no idea once they get onto the field. Steve Folkes also must be worried contrary to protestations in the press. The Bulldogs’ capitulation against the Eels, while a joy to behold, could have long term consequences for the club’s chances. It reminds me a little of 2004, when the Bulldogs blew the Eels away in round 1 and Parra never recovered.
Bring on round 2.
8 responses so far ↓
Club Troppo » Missing Link Daily // Mar 19, 2008 at 1:00 am
[...] Shaun forgets to mention that Parramatta are the worst team in any sport since the dawn of man – and will be until the heat death of the universe – but otherwise does a pretty good job wrapping up the first round of the NRL. [...]
Bismark O'Measles // Mar 19, 2008 at 7:34 am
Harsh words Club T .. I’ve sort of got used to Shauns yellow and blue obsession (with a surname like that he has little choice) and look forward to the clashes between our respective teams… we never miss ‘em!
Craig Wing :
This from SMH today
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/prowler-ban-just-a-start-say-souths/2008/03/18/1205602374185.html
Being a Souths supporter, I was close to tears when R Brown took that cheap shot but understood that it was legal.
Outlawing it now does little for my season but will hopefully save some other poor sod from the same fate.
Shame it couldn’t have happened to someone who deserved it like W.Mason. (hahahah – joke – really…)
Let’s see your round 2 tips then Shaun.
Shaun // Mar 19, 2008 at 8:28 am
The Troppo guys are just joshin’. Ken is a Manly supporter however so that explains some of it.
Round 2 tips shall be up late Thursday. There are some interesting games in this round that will sort the tippers out.
Haary Kewell // Mar 19, 2008 at 9:49 am
all mothers seeing the Wing tackle will never let their boys play league.
How could such thuggery be legal?
Amanda // Mar 19, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I only saw a bit of a couple of matches, in between sets at the Katoomba RSL but geez it was great to have the footy back.
Except for R. Brown and Co. *spit*
Amanda // Mar 19, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Oh and it sucked about Steve Simpson too …
Stephen Hill // Mar 20, 2008 at 12:01 am
We was wobbed, those evil un-PC Eels choose to victimise the vertically challenged Matt Utai with precision bombing. Surely in the means of equality, Mr. Utai should be allowed a step-ladder to assist in overcoming the size advantage of Grothe and Reddy. And I thought it was white men who couldn’t jump.
What a wierd game, the Eels were absolutely abysmal in the first half, errors in their own half, failing to find touch from penalties, it was a comedy of errors which was most enjoyment and then the Bulldogs lost it, similar to how they lost the Toyota Cup from 22-6 just an hour before-hand, and to rub salt into the wounds it was one Daniel Mortimer who was among the best players on the field. Isn’t there a law that the descendents of Folkes, Lamb, Mortimer, Hughes (actually you can have Corey and StephenHughes) et al. are required to play for the Dogs (while overlooking the hypocrisy of us picking up the sons of Steve Roach and Gary Jack in the off-season.)
Mind you Finch and Mateo (that reverse flick-pass) were impressive in the second half, I don’t know why you’re worried about Smith, I think Finch is more suited to half-back than playing 5/8, and he was the instigator of the big comeback. Mind you the Bulldogs did help manners, being mighty disorganised in attack, Holdsworth and Roberts going missing, and SBW jittery after the knee complaint. The only ray of sunlight was that former Eel Justin Tsolous looked like he had some go-forward in him, something which in absence of any decent prop forwards is much needed. Armit is coming back from injury I here.
Mind you I know how we’ll deal with Finch in the next game, we’ll send Brad Morrin back for seconds, he’ll be hungrier having attained the taste of blood from last years epic encounter, and he’ll be eager to dine out on another leg of flesh.
For the Bulldogs it could be a lean season, we’re a little soft up the middle, our marker defense is still suspect and we all too easily fall into the directionlessness that typified last season. I wonder if Folkes will chance some of the young talent we have coming through the system, or whether he’ll wait another 6 months. I think with the loss of Mason, O’Meley, Sherwin it will be a season of rebuilding, so I think we should be chancing a few players looking ahead toward the next few years, but poor old Folkesy might be looking to avoid the axe and will see things from a much shorter time frame.
Vee // Mar 29, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Again, I’m here via Troppo & you know for some odd reason I never made the connection with Cronin and Parramatta. Shame on me.