From The Couch: Round 12, 2022
Freddy Jumps The Shark: The arrogance displayed in the naming of the NSW team was truly something to behold and suggests the Blues are cherry-ripe for the picking. The centre situation is a complete debacle, picking a player in Jack Wighton that is not going overly well out of position ahead of a premiership winning centre. That is to say little for the defensive frailties of Kotoni Staggs. The selection of either winger ahead of Josh Addo-Carr is utter madness. Naming Stephen Crichton on the bench is a complete waste of a bench position and it is hard to see him getting any time. Tariq Sims should be as close to a NSW side as I should. Naming Jacob Saifiti in the squad has me questioning whether Fittler has all his faculties. The Suaali selection over Addo-Carr was the height of arrogance. Billy Slater has been gifted every opportunity to win his first series in charge.
Shoot The Alphabetists: There is absolutely nothing more unnecessarily infuriating in Rugby League than this moronic fad of naming Origin squads in alphabetical order. Here is how stupid it is: The geniuses at the NSWRL decided to do it and concluded that Paulo comes before Matterson and Murray. Albo should be outlawing this as a priority. It takes a special kind of idiocy to pull this stunt.
Accountability – Not Ref Bashing: Grahame Anneseley’s weekly propaganda spot – one that would make Putin blush with its finagling of the truth – loves to chastise the masses about what he likes to call ref bashing as he attempts to make everybody both inside the game and who follows the game see stupid to him and his kind. Yet you can be sure and certain complete fuck-ups like the non-sin bin of Jack Bird will just be washed over if it is mentioned at all. Bird deliberately grabbed the very fast Matt Dufty. Weeks ago something very similar was awarded a penalty try. This obviously was not a penalty try but was the most obvious sin bin of all-time. Nothing. These clowns who spend time searching for knock ons and re-interpreting obstructions just let something so obvious like that go on. No wonder Des Hasler blew up publicly and so many clubs are seething behind the scenes. When Anneseley attempts to whitewash the officiating he sounds like an idiot. He needs to concentrate on doing his job, start holding his officials accountable and ensure there are enough referees waiting in the wings to allow this to happen. Selling unpalatable propaganda is not part of his job.
Shine A Light: There is a very simple solution to reducing interference from The Bunker, particularly in general play. Broadcast all audio communication between on-field officials and The Bunker. Make it accessible live. That will quickly stop The Bunker overstepping their remit.
The Broncos Should Learn from Chris Anderson: It was nearly 30 years ago now but when Darren Smith signed with the Brisbane Broncos for the 1995 season Smith was banished to reserve grade by Chris Anderson. Jarrod McCracken copped a similar fate the following season. Did the Bulldogs cut of their nose to spite their face? Perhaps. They did though make the Grand Final both seasons. Broncos fans rightly booed Payne Haas last week after it was revealed he had asked for an immediate release. Haas has a deal that lasts until 2024. It doesn’t matter if he is unhappy with the deal. He signed it. It does not matter if his management requested a release – he pays them. The Broncos should dump Haas to the Queensland Cup and watch his value decline.
The Finest Documentary of All: Anyone wanting to watch the best Rugby League documentary i’ve seen should tune in to the 14-part documentary ‘Tales of Reinstatement’ made by the Rabbitohs about the tumultuous and historic years when they were excluded from the premiership before winning readmission. It is a wonderfully put together piece highlighted by the story of Albert Clift. It was produced by the South Sydney content team and speaks with many key figures including Noelene Piggins, Mike Whitney, Andrew Denton, Nick Pappas and Craig Wing. It can all be found on YouTube and is a must-watch.
Bet Local: Anyone who enjoys a bet and enjoys this column can support it by signing up with TopSport through clicking this link. TopSport is a great Australian bookmaker who have an excellent site, great prices and some ripping ownership.
2022 Field Goal Update – 18: Tyson Gamble kicked an arrogant, completely meaningless field goal in the dying minutes against the Titans to send the final margin from 10 to 11. Amazing stuff.
Fun Fact #1: Cameron Munster signed his Storm contract at Kittens and is now the all-time leader in strips.
Fun Fact #2: The Rugby League News from 100 years ago featured a cover about the Maori touring team, a preview of Norths and University that forecast a big win for “The Shoremen”, a plea not to criticise referees, talk of a promising young St George player called ‘Dooze’ Mullarkey, a cartoon recount of Norths rolling Easts, a poem and a multitude of scotch ads.
Fun Fact #3: Nathan Brown is 36-93-1 since returning to the NRL in 2016.
Betting Market of the Week: Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be seen more often at:
$4.00: Cronulla Sharks games
$3.00: Sydney Swans games
$2.00: Tahs games if anyone was there to actually see another human
Rumour Mill: Payne Haas has been strongly linked to the Gold Coast Titans with the signature of his brother a clear indicator to Haas that the Titans are prepared to give him what he wants. There is plenty of speculation around the reasons Matt Lodge left the Warriors. Shane Flanagan is favoured to become the next Bulldogs coach.
The Coaching Crosshairs: New Zealand Warriors owner Mark Robinson has confirmed that Nathan Brown is in no danger of being sacked this year “until after reviews” which suggest he is also no chance of coaching beyond 2022. Brown, to the surprise of only a delusional bunch of Warriors fans who consider him a competent coach, has been a failure of epic proportions. He is not their future. He should not be their present. Delaying his axing is only delaying the rebuild.
Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: It is hard to understand how Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has lobbed as Gold Coast captain and been given the power to dictate when and where short kickoffs take place. In the era of the captain’s challenge, selection of a captain is critical. Tino unquestionably leads from the front but he is young, is not renowned as being a great Rugby League mind and gets little perspective working through the middle. Justin Holbrook’s call to make him skipper proved insanely costly when the captain directed a short kickoff when leading by 14 and swung all momentum. There are far better options at the Titans, namely AJ Brimson.
Watch It: We enjoyed a spectacular and dramatic Challenge Cup final so what better time to look at some of the greatest moments in Challenge Cup history, all put together beautifully in animated form. Watch it here.
Contradictory rant. Saying players shouldn’t be there based on their form, while ignoring the poor form of Addo-Carr
Spot on with your remarks about Addo-Carr. As a Qlder, I couldn’t be happier that he got dropped for someone as butter fingered as Tupou, even if he is 8 foot tall. In the same vein, I’m genuinely terrified about Staggs’ selection. I didn’t think his defence had been that bad, but Qld’s edge isn’t exactly electrifying with attacking class, so I don’t see him being found out in that respect. The NSW attack though, Gagai is going to have a Kotoni shaped handprint imbedded in his chest next Wednesday.
I also couldn’t agree more about dumping Haas to Q Cup; it’s the only thing clubs still have in their arsenal to protect against this mid contract BS. I thought it was weak that we upgraded the contract last year, but the arrogance of the bloke to try again this year is astounding. He’s a fantastic player, but the fans and former greats are right to pile on over the issue. From a fan perspective, I hope someone senior gets in his ear, he pulls his head in and continues to do what he does best on the field.
I see your point re Tino, but the Tits were screaming out for someone to lead from the front and he’s all heart. I’m sure he’d like to have that short kick off decision over again and will learn from it. Brimson is a quality player, but I don’t know if he’s got it in him to grab the game by the scruff of the neck (yet); he definitely didn’t show it in the second half last friday.