From The Couch: Round 24

From The Couch: Round 24

The Nation Gets a Rugby League PM: At the start of last week, few would have anticipated we would have a Rugby League man as Prime Minister but that is what we have with Scott Morrison shockingly becoming Prime Minister on Friday. Scarf-wearing union man Malcolm Turnbull was clinging to power but the forces of evil were gathering with Peter Dutton as short as $1.05 to take the top job. Dutton is from Queensland but spends too much time developing racist dog whistles to waste time on Rugby League – and seemingly – maths. Morrison is a proper league man, Cronulla’s No.1 ticketholder and a true supporter of the code. Hopefully he uses his position to put the death blow on union, starve AFL of the public funds they so love and make the Dally M Medal night his most important night of the year.

A Disgrace in the Box: Fox Sports has rolled out some horrid analysts this year. Steve Roach is impossible to listen to, respect or tolerate. Braith Anasta has no understanding of tone. Mark Gasnier has an obsession with rhetorical questions that he still manages to get the answer to wrong. The worst of the lot though is the arrogant, bitter and downright idiotic Corey Parker. In Saturday night’s game, he had clearly backed the Storm with some utterly ridiculous takes. None was more offensive though than his commentary when Ash Taylor got hit late and high with only seven minutes remaining. A penalty would have allowed the Titans to level the scores. All replays showed Taylor getting hit late and high yet Parker went on a convoluted two minute spiel essentially calling Taylor a diver and demanding that Taylor go off if he is really hurt. When Taylor went off after significant assistance, Parker then virtually called Taylor soft, essentially saying as a halfback and key playmaker he shouldn’t be staying down because he will need to go off for a HIA. Appalling.

Vale, Lance Thompson: It was with shock and sadness this week that the Rugby League world learnt of the sudden passing at the tender age of 40. It felt like only yesterday Thompson was on the field, carting it up. He was a no frills player who got by on toughness and heart. Thompson debuted in 1995 in a team that contained the likes of Ricky Walford and Anthony Mundine and played 239 top grade games, retiring in 2008 playing alongside the likes of Greg Bird and Paul Gallen. Thompson left it all on the field and there aren’t many player who can retire saying that.

Napa A Liability: When it comes to the list of most overrated props in the game, Dylan Napa surely tops the list. He has a very poor workrate. His online defence is atrocious. And he continually puts his team in a poor spot with his terrible and dangerous tackling technique. He was lucky to not get sent off on Saturday after his sickening hit on Andrew McCullough. He will now miss most of the finals through suspension. Any club who pays big dollar for him will get exactly what they deserve … the next Martin Kennedy.

A Day To Remember for French Rugby League: There have not been a lot of bright days for French Rugby League since the Vichy Government and their Nazi-loving rugby union cohorts attempted to destroy the game in the 1940s. There was the great Puig Aubert teams of the 1950s. There have been odd Test wins. Catalans introduction into Super League. Not much can match Catalans winning the Challenge Cup though, a mighty upset win over Warrington to become the first non-English team in over 120 years to lift one of Rugby League’s most vaunted trophies. What a magical victory it was.

Note: Next week From The Couch will be out midweek due to commitments on Sunday evening.

2018 Field Goal Update – 33: No field goals this weekend but Lachlan Lewis, Nathan Cleary and Chad Townsend slotted one  each over Rounds 22-23.

Fun Fact #1: The Cronulla Sharks have been mentioned in the immediate lead-up by a key player in two Prime Ministerial coronations in the last decade – by Rob Oakeshott and Scott Morrison.

Fun Fact #2: John Howard is the only genuine Rugby League PM since World War II. Bob Hawke developed a love for the Raiders. No claims can be made by any other PM.

Fun Fact #3: Australia’s third Prime Minister Chris Watson was a patron of the South Sydney Rugby League Football Club.

Betting Market of the Week: Andrew Fifita and Josh Dugan will name their new podcast:

$1001: The two smartest men in the world
$501: Good blokes talk rugby league
$1.02: Deadshits take on deadshits

Rumour Mill: There is a strong rumour doing the rounds that a Canberra Raider has threatened an uber driver and the matter is now with the police. There are set to be significant changes to the Fox Sports team in 2019 with one analyst set to be released, primarily for the way he conducts himself behind the scenes. A caller is also set to step away from the role. North Queensland are the favourites to snare Ben Barba’s signature.

Key Stat for a Player Who Should Not Be in First Grade: Konrad Hurrell has scored one try in his last 156 games.  

Games of the Year Nomination:

Round 22: Melbourne – Cronulla, 14-17
Round 23: Canterbury – New Zealand, 27-26
Round 24: Brisbane – Sydney Roosters, 22-8

The Coaching Crosshairs: Speculation is rife that Paul McGregor will be out at the Dragons at season’s end. Despite being under contract, a change in ownership and CEO coupled with another late-season collapse is likely to see McGregor replaced for 2019. Wayne Bennett is the favourite for the job though Justin Holbrook, coach of St Helens and former Dragons lower grade coach, will come into consideration if Bennett and Brisbane make peace.

Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: It happened a few weeks back but it is hard to go past Trent Barrett’s decision to quit Manly. The Sea Eagles are a basketcase. He is unlikely to win a premiership there. Resources will be hard to come by. It is not a fun working environment. But Barrett has done significantly more damage to his reputation by quitting Manly than seeing out his contract and eventually getting sacked. Barrett has no job to go to and the smart money is on him not coaching another NRL team soon unless Gus has him lined up at Penrith. He has seemed petulant and unable to control his emotions. His personnel decisions have been poor. He just isn’t a very good coach. And coaches who aren’t very good probably shouldn’t be quitting.

Beard Watch: The Morris twins have spent their entire careers looking entirely interchangeable so it was pleasing to see so late in his career Josh try to differentiate himself a little with just a touch of a goatee.

Correspondence Corner: Knight Vision, strong and passionate defence of Sione. Not sure the kids are still using Victoria’s Secret catalogues to get off. Seems so quaint!

Davey G and CTPE, Gus operates in the shadows but he wants things done his way. He may not be over the shoulder of the coach but he expects the coach to operate with the same philosophies.

Watch It:  Kenny Edwards is now a Challenge Cup winner. He did it in an historic victory with Catalans. Watch his post-match interview here.