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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]