sidelined

Tabloid newspapers thrive on controversy to drive sales. And not just on the front page. A good old fashioned beat up on the back page is a bonus. As was the case this week with the Daily Telecrap in Sydney spending most of the week talking about a rift between Jarryd Hayne and Eels coach Daniel Anderson. It was was an utterly ridiculous story that revealed a distinct lack of integrity driven by arrogance.

The story started with the Telecrap distorting comments, and very fair comments at that, Anderson made about Hayne’s game on the weekend. Hayne’s manager, Wayne Beavis, was more of a Butthead by reading the Telecrap’s beatup and deciding to call a crisis meeting with Anderson and Paul Osbourne which the Telecrap gleefully reported. Sanity prevailed when Beavis did talk to Osbourne and Anderson instead of going off half cocked on the flimsy basis of shoddy sports journalism. Things seemed to quiet down until this morning when it was revealed that Hayne is ready to walk out of the club. When one actually reads the story, the only source is Terry Hill and even then, it is taken out of context. Hayne himself had to make a comment today confirming the obvious that there is issue between him and Anderson.

Yes Parra aren’t playing well and that is news just as their magical run to the Grand Final last year was news. But in analyzing why Parra is having trouble doesn’t excuse the pathetic attempts by the Telecrap to create division where there is none. It reflects poorly in the ability and integrity of the bottom feeding scum who cover rugby league for the Daily Telecrap.

Now on to the tips.
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The NSW side for State of Origin III taken from the NSWRL website:

Jarryd Hayne – Parramatta Eels
Brett Morris – St George Illawarra Dragons
Michael Jennings – Penrith Panthers
Beau Scott – St George Illawarra Dragons
Michael Gordon – Penrith Panthers
Trent Barrett (c) – Cronulla Sharks
Mitchell Pearce – Sydney Roosters
Jason King – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Michael Ennis – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Kade Snowden – Cronulla Sharks
Luke Lewis – Penrith Panthers
Paul Gallen – Cronulla Sharks
Greg Bird – Gold Coast Titans

Kurt Gidley – Newcastle Knights
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs – Canberra Raiders
Tim Mannah – Parramatta Eels
Anthony Watmough – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
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A coincidence that this year’s Women in League round is on the same time as Julia Gillard becomes Australia’s second female Prime Minister after Jeanette Howard? Maybe but there is a nice symmetry.

When I was a young lad, my mum would take me to training, pick me up from training, take me to games, made sure I had a proper fitting mouth guard and good boots. I’d say that wasn’t unusual and many kids today have the same experience. Mothers, wives, daughters and grand daughters are vital to the foundation of rugby league. 40,000 women are involved in with rugby league and as David Peachey says in this interview, women aren’t just washing jerseys any more. They are running clubs, on the board and coaching and refereeing.

Unfortunately, women in league is too often mentioned in the context of very distasteful off field behaviour. This round reminds everyone that they are important part of the game and deserved to be honoured not just for one round, but everyday of the year.

Now to boldly go where no tipster has gone before.

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As a footy fan, you can only admire the breathtaking talent the Queensland side has. If they are not the best Queensland side ever play Origin then they must be close. And the intensity that NSW could not even come close to matching. I watched the game through to the end. Partly to see how much worse this NSW team could get but also with admiration at the skills Queensland showed in dismantling the Blues. I wonder if Falou is wondering if he has made the right decision with his career?
One thing that did puzzle me was the Queensland song they sung at full-time. Something like “yippee, yippee ai ai.” Then I remember this was a state that had to name its beer XXXX and it all made sense.

And this week what I reckon is…
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A game already overshadowed by Andrew John’s racist remarks that lead to Timana Tahu leaving the Blues camp. Steve Mascord has written a great piece about the casual racism behind the “average Aussie bloke.” And people elsewhere have pointed out why is there not more fuss over the second word uttered by Johns?

Tahu’s actions were brave. He did the right thing. I’ve seen a few suggestions that Tahu should have just punched Johns in the head but that ranks with maturity as those who have called Tahu soft. As for a possible reason why Tahu did what he did, this article recounts how his stepfather was marginalised and harrassed in the NSW Police Force for standing up against racism.

Regarding accusations that Indigenous players do not get a fair go in NSW, Anthony Mundine was not one of them. He played in an era dominated by Fittler and Daley, two of the best five-eights to play the game. They may have not been able to do handstands but they sure could do other things on the field that were actually useful.

But Nathan Blacklock could be considered hard done and so could Preston Campbell, whose heart would have easily made up for his lack of size. Of the current crop, Nathan Merritt would be great in a Blues side. But he is an attacking winger and the trouble is that the Blues have a very defensive mind set at the moment. Jamie Soward is another who may start to wonder what he has to do to play Origin for NSW.

And with that it seems almost wrong to look at the game ahead but the game goes on, hopefully better after what has transpired.

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While most of us prefer sports with oblate spheroids, the round ball game’s World Cup can be admired as a tremendous sporting spectacle. It even sparks the interest of people like me who barely pay attention to the game other wise.

Hand sites are SBS’ The World Game and this nifty World Cup Calendar.

So feel free to discuss away what is happening over in South Africa.

We pass the halfway mark of the regular season. The Dragons are the trend setters sitting very comfortably at the top of the table. Premierships aren’t won in June but you can sure set yourself up for one. The Panthers are next much to the surprise of their fans methinks. There seems some expectation that it is all too good to be true but maybe good things for the mountain me this year. Manly take third but there is some fragility about the side at the moment. They could start a slide back down the ladder. The Tigers are fourth and while also a little up and down, when they apply themselves they can beat anyone. I’m still not sure about the Titans. My feeling is that their place on the ladder is a little generous to the team’s performances of late.

The Bunnies are the big improvers this year. Consistency in the halves and the big name forward pack living up to their reputation. The Broncos are hanging in around seventh spot and may still make the finals but I’m not sure. As for the Eels, it is up the them if they want to shake this comp up.

Outside the eight, the Roosters bright start is really fading. The Raiders have had their moments but still have issues hanging onto leads. The Warriors statistically have a glimmer of hope to resurrect their season but it would take an almighty form reversal. The Knights have the potency but rarely seem to be able to put it together. Again, they could still make the eight but will require an 2009 Eels like run home to get there.

The Sharks are just happy to be off the bottom of the table. As for the Doggies, age is wearying Kimmorely and that is affecting the team. And the Cowboys are just hapless at the moment. I suggest that Thurston’s dominance is hurting the side. A few good forwards and another half decent player maker would help the Cowboys.

And finally the Storm, for good and well documented reasons, are last.

As for this week…
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It seems with concerns over injuries and the judiciary NSW have name 21 players for the intial squad for Origin II. They are:

Trent Barrett, Matt Cooper, Ben Creagh, Josh Dugan, Michael Ennis, Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley, Jarryd Hayne, Nathan Hindmarsh, Jamal Idris, Jason King, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Luke Lewis, Brett Morris, Luke O’Donnell, Mitchell Pearce, Beau Scott, Timana Tahu, Trent Waterhouse, Michael Weyman, Brett White

Kimmorely is gone as expected. Look he tried hard but NSW need a half back that at least has some attacking plays and Pearce is probably the best of an average lot in that regards.

The backrow will be interesting. Gallen does play hard but is prone to brain explosions during Origin. A few Queenslanders will be happy if he plays. It will also be interesting if Hindmarsh gets a run. It would only benefit NSW to have him in the side. And is it possible he may be named captain as one hasn’t been named yet?

Now as to why Cooper is still here I have no idea. I would have replaced him with Jennings. And what does Nathan Merritt need to do to have a look in? He is one of the form wingers in the comp yet never gets a mention. NSW’s conservative approach has failed them for four years. Now would be a good time to try something new.

The side won’t really take shape till Wednesday morning after Hayne and Lewis confront the jokediciary. But there are signs that the selectors are finally understanding some of the problems of sides of the past four years. The trouble is it may be too late.

Like many others, I got caught up in the Sam Stosur story at this week’s French Open. She had an impressive tournament, beating three past and present world number ones to reach the final (four-time champion Justine Henin, 12-time major winner Serena Williams and then Jelena Jankovic), raising Aussie hopes that perhaps she could be our nation’s first holder of the title since Margaret Court in 1973.

But Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone also had an underdog story looking for a fairytale ending, as an older player who has never before reached a majors semi-final and the first Italian hope for a French Open title, and last night Schiavone lifted Italian and broke Australian hearts by beating Stosur convincingly in 2 sets.

Schiavone deserved to win – she totally outplayed Stosur in the first set, and although Stosur fought back hard in the second set she couldn’t break through. It was a great match to watch, highly varied play instead of just baseline slogs, with those fantastic player slides that you only get on clay.

Speaking of clay, the elated abandon of Shiavone as she climbed through the stands in her clay-covered togs to hugs from her family and friends brought the biggest grin to my face from watching sport for a long time.

I’ve noticed the usual mid season despondency creeping around the traps. Unless you are a Dragons fan it is has been a bit of bumpy ride for most teams (excluding the Storm for obvious reasons). If my memory serves me correct no team has registered more than four wins in a row yet. But if I stand back a bit, there is no reason to doubt your club just yet. Origin tends to confuse things for a while and the end of Origin is when things get really going. If your faith if wavering then console yourself with the fact that the business end of the season is still to come. Though that may not be enough for a Bulldogs, Cowboys or Sharks fan. Still, if you are coming near the bottom in a footy tipping comp (like me) you are still in with a chance for an epic run home to win.

Onwards ever boldy to the tips.
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