From The Couch: Rep Weekend 2017

From The Couch: Rep Weekend 2017

The NRL Goes Cocaine Crazy: It has been a massive week for those who deliver baggies to NRL players and officials this week with a remarkable three cocaine bust stories coming out over the last three days. Shaun Kenny-Dowall was busted at Ivy for possession but likely had spilled his blow right in front of the cops. Then Damien Keogh, Cronulla chairman, was nabbed after a long lunch at Kingsleys on Friday. Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor then celebrated their Test defeat by attempting to buy a bag or two in the capital.

Kenny-Dowall will likely be stood down and his contract torn up. He is off contract at season’s end anyway and won’t be re-signed.

Keogh has stepped down as Cronulla chair and is unlikely to return to the game.

Nothing yet has happened to Bromwich or Proctor but it is hard to see how they cannot face a long-term suspension.

Let the good times roll … it is party times in the NRL!

While Todd Greenberg is right that the NRL is just a reflection of society, it was hardly a strong position. The old buried under the rug situation seems to be just around the corner.

The smart play for the NRL would be to just admit it is a recreational drug and let people get on with their lives.

Sick Betting Story: Anyone who bet Cook Islands from their closing line of +8.5 to +10 suffered one of the most sickening of beats of all-time. A late Cook Islands try put the margin back to eight and it seemed it would finish that way until an astonishing sequence of events that saw PNG fling the ball wildly, Cook Islands blatantly steal the ball, the Kumuls choosing for some ghastly reason to take the two from 48 metres out and then slotting said penalty. Sick. Just sick.

2017 Field Goal Update – 10: No field goals over rep round, not even an attempt.

Fun Fact #1: Sione Mata’utia has passionately sung three national anthems in two weeks.

Fun Fact #2: James Storer, Fiji’s 35-year-old tryscorer, last played in the NRL in 2003 in a match captained by Jason Death and Brad Fittler, referee by Steve Lyons and including Russell Richardson and Ryan Cross.

Fun Fact #3: Wally Prigg is the most capped Country player of all-time with 12 appearances for Country between 1929 and 1939.

Betting Market of the Week: How the NRL spent its week off:

$81.00: Honouring the history of City-Country
$11.00: Training hard
$8.00: Spending time with their family
$1.20: Getting high and feeling a million bucks

Rumour Mill: Josh Dugan is reportedly on his way out of the Dragons with the Bulldogs supposedly favoured to snare his signature. James Graham is close to a deal with the Knights and could be joined by Greg Eastwood. Tuimoala Lolohea is trying to get an immediate release from the Warriors to join the Tigers. The Eels knocked back a player swap with the Tigers because involved Clint Gutherson. Parramatta have also rejected an advance by Jarryd Hayne about returning to the club.

Robbie Farah Anger Level – Low: Robbie was out of the news this week which is an extremely unusual happening.

What I Like About … Cocaine: Just kidding … it seemed appropriate this week.

What I Like About … The Boas Brothers: Watson and Ase Boas, the halves pairing for the Kumuls and PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup, play with outstanding energy and skill and should definitely be in the mix for an NRL gig. They can play straight, they have great brains and are all hustle. The Knights and the Tigers would be well advised to sign them up immediately.

Game of the Year Nomination, Rep Round: Tonga – Fiji, 26-24. An absolute cracking game between two passionate teams. The footy was sensational and the finish remarkable.

The Coaching Crosshairs: Anthony Griffin in far from safe at Penrith. He is unlikely to be dumped midseason but the vinegar will be on if they don’t make the eight and likely win a final. There are some pretty unhappy campers at Penrith and Phil Gould is not afraid to pull the trigger if things aren’t working out.

Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: Wayne Bennett selecting Chris McQueen was a slap in the face to England Rugby League and Super League in particular. There was no need to select a player so mediocre when there is more than enough talented backrowers available.

Beard Watch: Joey Leilua’s little chin fluff may well be the worst bit of facial hair in the NRL. It is as bad as his hands.

Correspondence Corner: Rick, you are spot on, clubs know what they are in for and the NRL should give clubs no say in the matter.

Davey G, you are spot on about some of the muppets who have been given rep honours with City-Country. The game is far more valuable than the All-Stars rubbish too.

Watch It: With City-Country cruelly ended, we go back to 1974 to watch a classic City-Country clash that featured the likes of Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote, Bob Fulton and Graham Eadie for City and Mick Cronin, Jim Morgan, Dallas Donnelly and Alan McMahon for Country. Watch it here.