Tag: 2008
The Real Meaning of Origin
Steve Turner, in what history will one day tell us was his one and only State of Origin match, was the real meaning of Origin II. And in essence, he was the real meaning of Origin football. From the laughable decision to select Turner through to his complete ineptitude in attempting to stop the Queensland […]
Holding the Hammer: The 52 Most Influential Men in Australian Rugby League
“What a mother sings to the cradle goes all the way down to the grave” -Henry Ward Beecher It is not often that my mind drifts to the words of nineteenth century Congregationalist clergymen but every now and then, when the stars are in retrograde and the need to reassert one’s self becomes prominent, wise […]
Requiem for Big Jack
“We all know you’re soft cause we’ve all seen you dancing We all know you’re hard cause we’ve all seen you drinking from noon Until noon again” -“The Boy with the Arab Strap”, Belle and Sebastian There is something about a great coach that ensures the eminent sports mentors are revered in almost beatific tones. […]
A Brief History of Time: From Birchgrove Oval to the Colin Best Express
It was a moment of great solitude. A series of both fortunate and unfortunate events had led me to the Sydney Cricket Ground on the Sunday afternoon that rugby league in Australia celebrated one hundred years. The final siren had blown some ten minutes prior and humanity and rugby league covered the sanctified turf. Fingers […]
Treachery in the Capital
Neil Henry has betrayed Canberra. He has acted in the manner of a cheap deserter, selling out a town he called home for a few bucks and a Christmas ham. It is as simple as that. And he will never be forgiven for his treason and he will never be welcomed back. He is a […]
A Century of Rugby League: The 2008 NRL Preview
Every now and then, things can get a little weird. And so it was last Saturday evening at The Porterhouse, where a chain of events resulted in a strange discussion on Canadian Football and your humble author being labeled a “celebrity asshole.” What had started out as a few quiet recovery beers had escalated into […]
A Fantasy Football Guide from a Fantasy Football Champion
It was a day that will live in the annals of fantasy rugby league history. The Geurie Greens, run like the German transit system by your most-competitive author, were well behind. It was Grand Final weekend, the second annual FFL decider, and the loathed Yenda Yuans seemed to have a premiership winning edge with only […]
When You Want Something Done You Go Straight to the Top
It was not what you would call your traditional Valentine’s Day. This year, there was no flowers, no chocolates, no public displays of affection. Not in any physical sense, at any rate. Most poets would not have defined the day as romantic. Most Hallmark executives would take a similar position. They, of course, do not […]
Nobody Understands Rugby League Greatness Like Old Punt Understands Rugby League Greatness
Rugby League Week named their thirty greatest players of the last thirty years on Wednesday. A panel of six, five to be respected and the other Mark Geyer, selected the list from one hundred candidates. The list of candidates, by the by, had the odd smattering of disbelief and a tendency to cause the jaw […]
Belmore Revisited
“Behind closed doors he finally lifted his hand Quickly he spelled out his last sentences They were written in red ink Hear them calling” – The Last Gent, The Ladybug Transistor Bastardizing a pithy Waugh phrase is not a regular habit of your keen author but in this instance, it seems warranted. Brace yourself for […]
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