Matty Johns is in the news for the wrong reasons as an on tour incident involving sexual misconduct from 2002 has come to light. More will be revealed on Monday when Four Corners runs the story on Monday night. I’ll reserve my comment till I have watched the program (which will be Tuesday as I’m going to the Roosters v Storm down at Bluetongue).
On the field, a split round this weekend with Friday marking the start of the rep season. Insert joke about a couple of teams struggling with the bye here.
Tips assisted by a gaggle of economists. They are sure to get something right soon.
Australia v New Zealand, Friday 7:45 pm, Suncorp Stadium
The Aussie side is not one of the better ones to represent the country. Quite a few players are there by reputation only. They are there for redemption and to salvage the reputation damaged by the loss to New Zealand in last year’s World Cup final. And that could hurt Australia. There are some players who will rise to the occasion but certain others could be a liability. The trouble is that you can never know what to expect from the Kiwis. The Aussie are vulnerable but I don’t trust the Kiwis’ consistency.
Country v City, Friday 7:35pm, Wade Park
Does this game mean anything anymore? When I was a lad playing for the Grafton Ghosts U/16 in the old Group 1 region, this was an important game. You knew City would win but you hoped that Country gave as good as it got. The Origin concept has evened things up. But this old country boy still feels that rural pride and contempt for the city slickers. Go lads and show those pretenders from the smoke how footy is played.
North Queensland v St George, Saturday 7:30pm, Dairy Farmers Stadium
The Cowboys got bushwhacked last week but given the Dragon’s rep contingent will be backing up from the previous night, they have a great chance of a win. I wonder if St Benny is going to see the same problems that the Broncos had around the rep season with the Dragons? Struggling with this but if the Cowboys have any pride they will play this game hard and get the points.
Newcastle v Gold Coast, Sunday 2:00pm, Energy Australia Stadium
The Knights are looking the goods this year. But I’m expecting Prince to come to this game and steel himself for a great performance. He’ll be wanting to show the selectors that he should be half back for Queensland. Still, that won’t be enough get the Titans across the line. Newcastle are in great form and starting to rebuild the fortress mentality.
Brisbane v Manly, Sunday 3:00pm, Suncorp Stadium
A loss will see Manly’s season almost beyond saving. They will be second last only with Cronulla saving them from ultimate disgrace. The Broncos at home is not the favoured game for a struggling side. Manly may benefit just a little from quite a few Broncos backing up after the Friday rep games. But Manly will have their own players facing the same hurdle. And given their form so far, they’ll trip over and fall.
Easts v Melbourne, Monday 7:00pm, Bluetongue Stadium
Can’t call them just Sydney can I? Be so wrong. Anyway, a game at the local which I will be attending. Just need to get a early pass from work. The Storm have been competent so far this year. The Roosters average at best. As I sit back in Bay 50 enjoying a Bluetongue (much better than VB or whatever crap they sell at other stadiums) I reckon the Storm will enjoy being the victor at the end.
The Sure Thing: The Broncos.
The Roughy: Dragons at $2:50.
Parramatta, New Zealand, Canberra, Canterbury, Wests, Cronulla, South Sydney and Penrith have the bye.
24 responses so far ↓
bismark O'Measles // May 8, 2009 at 10:18 am
I’ve never been a fan of MJ but truly sympathise with him on this one.. slinging the mud seven years down the track. All appeared to be consentual, MJ hasn’t denied it and sorted it out with his family at the time – I just can’t understand why we’re reading about it…….
Question : Why do women who have group sex with ‘names’ get traumatised?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not insensitive to womens rights and certainly sympathise with her issue (if she really has one), I’m simply fed up with the repetition and insinuations and can’t understand why the media are so small-minded.
Incidentally, Catherine Lumby was on 702 this morning telling us about the work she’s doing with the NRL in the field of leadership both on and off the field and on strategies they’re putting in place to improve not only the reputation of the players but their attitudes when it comes to PC. Sounds very interesting.
bismark O'Measles // May 8, 2009 at 10:24 am
….ooooh, tips.
I’ll go with all of yours Shaun.
I find this time of year most confusing and wish I had more time to study the form (duly adjusted for lack of players) & what you’re saying seems to stack-up.
BTW : It’s mainly Tooheys New nowadays… far worse than VB in my opinion.
Mountain Boy // May 8, 2009 at 10:54 am
Excellent restraint of mascot usage!! Nice to hear where teams are from for a change.
my picks:
Australia
City
North Qld
Newcastle
Manly
Melbourne
Watch out Brisbane. Medically speaking, lactic acid build-up reaches it’s peak two days after a footy match. It also coincides with a decrease in adrenalin and glucose production. This combination has shown to make it quite difficult to play well 2days later. A phenomenon that occurs not after 1day, but 2days. By the 3rd day levels are returning to normal, so Melbourne players should have no worries. This week although both Brisbane and Manly have players with the 2day turnaround, there are more Brisbane players in key positions (fullback, winger, half-back, five-eighth) and I think this will make them highly susceptible to even the average performing Manly.
Newcastle too, have some key players with a 2day turnaround, but from what I have seen so far this year, Newcastle have some excellent depth and have shown they can win games without key players.
bismark O'Measles // May 8, 2009 at 12:47 pm
… do blokes produce Lactic Acid? I thought that was a chick-thing…
Anyhow, I’m sure there’s solid medical proof and appreciate Mountain Boy bringing it to our attention.
BOM
Shaun // May 8, 2009 at 12:58 pm
If you haven’t already then Roy Masters’ Bad Boysreveals a lot about how group sex has been part of bonding in footy teams.
To the issue at hand, yes I agree it is a little strange that it is being brought up, but in saying that I don’t want to dismiss out of hand the feelings of the woman involved.
I can conceive of a number of plausible scenarios where a bunch of blokes, engaging in group sex, could create a atmosphere that while not transgressing into sexual assault, could make it very uncomfortable for a woman.
Noting what Catharine Lumby said about double standards in society regarding how it is ok for males to explore their sexual boundaries while women are considered “trash” I can understand how the situation may have changed. Coercion may have come very easy and fear preventing a complaint.
So for the blokes involved it may have been consensual and a great story to tell the boys at training. For the girl, what appeared to have been some fun, quickly turned to something not so fun. She may have been effectively forgotten as a person. Just an object with no feelings, simply existing for the gratification of those present. Such objectification would lead to little concern for the woman’s participant feelings while the boys were boys.
Now I’m not saying what happened. Just exploring a scenario that could contribute to a woman feeling hurt by the aftermath.
In the Matt Johns incident, it may have been consensual (in his perception) and that there was no police case. But that does not mean there were no moral or ethical concerns breached (We know of one already).
And there should be no moral judgement of a woman deciding she wants group sex. That what has really irked my on comments on various forums. If it floats your boat and is safe, sane and consensual then why not?
These stories get a run simply because of the titillation factor and that rugby league has become the fall guy for bad behaviour by sports stars. (there are plenty of incidents involving AFL players believe me).
But the story does illustrate the double standards regarding sexual relations in society. The double standards that may have contributed to different perceptions of the event back in 2002.
Mountain Boy // May 8, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Playing first grade footy, by it’s nature, creates big egos. Fans will cheer when you run 10 metres, let alone score a try or kick a goal. Players can often be forgiven for thinking they are larger than life. They see themselves on TV, in the newspaper, on the internet. They believe they are very important as they are constantly in the news.
Remember most players these days are under 25, still youngsters, so their maturity will often belie their size. Put these egos then, into a situation where there is alcohol and attractive women around and you have the ingredients of a really bad cocktail. Violence, assaults, and all the rest just waiting to happen.
So take one of these ingredients away – alcohol. The alcohol ban implemented by several clubs is a great idea amd, I think, the key because these incidents don’t seem to occur without it around. Concentrate on this, and this alone, and you improve player behaviour, on-field performance, and the reputation of the NRL (or any other code for that matter eg. AFL)
Shaun // May 8, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I don’t see an alcohol ban as being the solution. Sure players are less likely to do something stupid without the grog but the underlying issues still remain and will need to be addressed.
I’ll admit that there isn’t any real easy answer but there is a reflection of society in the bad behaviour.
Shaun // May 9, 2009 at 12:32 am
Ok, I didn’t watch the second half but City flogged Country according to online reports. Wallace and Farah had a good combination it seemed and that may settle those positions for Origin.
Some interesting weeks ahead as the NSW team (apart from a few positions) is far from settled.
Mountain Boy // May 9, 2009 at 10:14 am
No easy solution agreed. People need to live too. You’re only young once and all that. Maybe more mentoring needed on the social side of things from a senior player mix for the ones that lack either maturity, the ability to handle a few drinks, or both.
Bismark O'Measles // May 9, 2009 at 5:08 pm
This is what Catherine Lumby is all about… interesting woman (and sometime Sidelined commentator) who is eorking directly with the NRL to achieve these outcomes.
Fell asleep at the end of game 1 and half way through game 2 so it was a bit of a washout for me. Damn being busy at work!
BOM
Mountain Boy // May 10, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Mountain Boy is good. (Even if he does need to resort to saying so himself)
Bismark O'Measles // May 10, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Bloomin’ Manly.
Oh well, I’m sure the Broncs were a popular pick this week although I do notice Mountain Boy picked the Sea Eagles ; You’re good Mountain Boy!
Happy Mothers day Mamma O’Mealses!
Bom
Shaun // May 11, 2009 at 10:42 am
Good call Mountain Boy. I wonder how many tipped the Dragons as well? But three really close games so far.
Were the Titans denied? I’d say the vid ref got that one right. Prince has only himself to blame.
Off to the Storm v Roosters tonight. I’ll be taping the Four Corners program and hope to review and comment on it tomorrow evening.
Oh, and Danny Weidler, do not pretend to be for treating women with respect when you write the trash you did yesterday.
Finally, mark June 6th in your diaries. Newtown v North Sydney at Henson Park. Bismarck, myself and assorted friends will be there. Come and enjoy the game with us!
gilmae // May 11, 2009 at 4:29 pm
At least Ennis winks when he tries to put one over. Come on, Princey, didn’t even look a little bit like an accident.
That first try by I-just-wanna-go-home-to-Wee-Waa, is that the rule now? That you don’t need to use your hands, your chest will do fine.
Mountain Boy // May 11, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Regular commercial TV hit the US in 1941 and decided to reach Australia in …1956. Why did it take this long? I don’t exactly know but it did.
So what year will it be when the NRL starts using the Phantom V10 camera, introduced for the 2007 NFL Superbowl, it’s main feature being high-reslolution slow-motion of 480 frames per second – just to take some doubt out of video ref decisions.
At the moment the cameras we see used on replays in th NRL (I would reckon anyway) show only about 3 frames per second (or even less !!).
Using the above TV calculation, the NRL should have possession of these latest gadgets by about 2022.
D.Gallop : Can you have a look at these ones? Preferrably before 2022. Did you know they existed? I’m sure the NRL will pay for you to personally meet with NFL hierarchy about it. There’s a plane leaving tomorrow if you are interested.
Shaun // May 11, 2009 at 5:01 pm
@gilmae – yep, I think the rule is now that if you force the ball with the torso it is a try.
@Mountain Boy – please not a camera with 480 frames/second. Harrigan will become insufferable as a video ref.
gilmae // May 11, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Wow, the forcing the ball rules are even weirder than I thought. I thought the change had been just no separation of the ball and the fingers, a change – I might add – that was no doubt introduced because stupid slow motion cameras disallow tries the ref would otherwise have given.
Mountain Boy // May 11, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Well I just thought anything’s an improvement on the Hutton’s Footy Franks commercial we see replayed every time we go to the video-ref these days.
Mountain Boy // May 11, 2009 at 6:08 pm
On the subject of downward pressure, I don’t think there should be a rule that allows anything but the palm-side of your hand to force the ball.
I also don’t think that a ball that comes loose and is then re-touched as it hits the ground is anything but a knock-on. (Whenever this happens in the field of play – Its a knock on. So if it happens in the in-goal…. yep, it should also be a knock-on).
I would like to see the term “control of the ball” when scoring a try re-defined in similar terms to the “control of the ball” required to judge a catch in cricket. (I’m not a cricketer, but I know there’s a definition about that)
gilmae // May 11, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Should never have let them introduce video referring in the first place. But the controlling body wasn’t aware that Channel Nine didn’t believe in vaccinations and before you know it rugby league picked up an infection from smart arse channel nine producers showing over and over the one bad decision per round. Then it spread from RL to cricket, although they practically had to get Kenny….I mean RL to spit in cricket’s mouth first.
Any day now the men in white will cough and AFL will have it as well, and is there any sport less in need of a video ref than AFL? What with ball control being banned, the boundary line not counting if the player showed willing, and the ‘if in doubt, bounce it’ approach to breakdown resolution.
Bismark O'Measles // May 11, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Talking of smart-arses, did you know that I once forced the ball with my left buttock? It bounced a few times (which was quite nice), something that would have been picked-up in America but not in Australia and a try was awarded.
It’s been loverly not to have to worry about tipping the Bunnies and Tigers this week … next week is one of two hell rounds for me.
Bismark O'Measles // May 11, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Oh bum! I just realised that I didn’t finish lodging my tips this week and ended tipping with the bloody Roosters by mistake.
BuymBumBUmBUm
I hope the beer was nice Shaun
Shaun // May 11, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Monday night footy is the best invention ever. Come home from work, head to the ground. A few beers and footy. A great way to start to the week.
Both the Roosters and the Storm were off their games but the Storm less so. Early on the Roosters were pretty much camped on the Storm’s line but after 10 minutes of pressure only had 6 points to show for it. The Storm were the better side for most of the game but it took them 74 minutes to really put the Roosters away. Inglis was really quiet for most of the match which was disappointing.
And poor Willie, even your own supporters boo you. Tough gig.
The Roosters had nothing in attack. But the scoreline flattered the Storm as well. There was no fluency at all and they relied on brute strength to get over the line. Effective tonight but it won’t work every game.
But I enjoyed the night out. Hope to watch the Four Corners program tomorrow night.
Mountain Boy // May 12, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Balmain Magpies up against Penrith Friday night at Leichhardt 5th June – should be a good one. Also Souths / Penrith Friday night at ANZ 10th July.