Season 2008: Round 10

From The Couch

Vale, Graham Murray…The nice guys rarely last in rugby league and it is a credit to Graham Murray that he has survived as long as he has. Murray has been maligned in many quarters throughout his time as a head coach in Australia but the simple reality is that he rates as one of the best coaches of the modern era. He has achieved plenty with very little. Murray took the perennially failing Illawarra Steelers to their first finals series in 1992, steering the club to within a try of a Grand Final spot. He left the Steelers in 1995 after defecting to Super League and in his only season running the Hunter Mariners, took a young and unspectacular team to the final of the World Club Challenge. After a brief and successful foray in the English Super League, Murray took over the Roosters upon Phil Gould’s resignation. In his first season at Easts, Murray took the Roosters to the Grand Final, something his predecessor failed to achieve in five seasons. Though Murray again took the Roosters to the finals in 2001, the political influence of Gould forced Murray’s departure after the Roosters two most successful seasons in nearly twenty years.

The same was done to Ricky Stuart in 2007. Murray was signed early in the 2002 season by North Queensland and for all intents and purposes, bought success to a franchise that had redefined mediocrity throughout its existence. Marquee players were prepared to move to Townsville to play under Murray and for the first time, the Cowboys seemed to have an identity. In 2004 the Cowboys barely lost a preliminary final before going one better in 2005 and losing in the Grand Final. Though he never won a premiership, Murray overachieved with every team he had. One would hope that Murray again coaches in the NRL though that would appear to be a mug bet by anyone’s calculations. As for the Cowboys and the disgruntled playing group, well, only time will teach them the irreparable mistake they have collectively made in turning on Murray.

Sonny Bill Williams, Consider Yourself on Notice…When that punk-bitch Mason left, things were supposed to calm down at Belmore. Now SBW wants to pull out threats of defecting to rugby. The Bulldogs should come down hard on Williams like a mallet smashing a clove of garlic. He won’t be leaving Belmore anytime soon and he should grow up and start treating the club that has treated him so well with a little respect.

Do Da Roy…What the hell happened to Roy Asotasi? He was once a feared footballer, regarded as a future number one prop. Today his reputation lay in tatters with his heart questioned and his ability to win matches doubted. He ran the ball five times for a paltry fifty-two metres against the Raiders. He just doesn’t seem to care these days. The Rabbits thought they signed a saviour in Asotasi. They may be paying a bust.

Hammer the Hammer…Sean Hampstead, who refereed his first top grade game back in 1997, hammered another nail into the coffin of the scrum on Sunday when he refused to penalise the Wests Tigers after a Tigers player dived through the scrum and picked up the ball after the Knights looked to have won one against the head. There are so few contests for the ball in rugby league these days so when there actually is one, foul play should be penalised. A lack of knowledge in scrimmaging is not an excuse. Referees are too lax these days. They are officals, not managers. Instead of teaching players how to pack a scrum, referees should penalise players who don’t follow the rules. By repacking the scrum, Hampstead further debased the institution of the rugby league scrum.

Welcome, Phil Haines…In a match bereft of stars, the most unrecognizable face on the field at ANZ Stadium on Saturday evening was the man in the middle, Phil Haines. Haines made his NRL debut on Saturday night. Welcome to the doll house. Haines was competent on debut, showing a willingness to make decisions and taking no guff from the more experienced players. Take these words and frame them Phil. They are likely to be the only positive ones written on you. Ever.

Oh, Ye Gods…The scene: Canberra Stadium…The Time: fifteen seconds to go…The Situation: The score sits on 42 points with your under 42 ½ total points bet looking home…The Event: The fattest, most useless player in the NRL, Dean Widders, scores a try that would rate a nine on the ass scale…Oh, Ye Gods, where is the mercy!

Coaching Stocks…

Value	LW	Coach	Comment
5	5	Craig Bellamy	Storm were touched up but were without nine stars. These games are irrelevant to Bellamy's reputation.
4.5	4.5	Ricky Stuart	Another grinding win for the Sharks. Their unattractive style, however, will catch up with them.
4.5	4.5	Wayne Bennett	The baby Broncos were gallant in defeat. Bennett would have been proud.
4	4	Des Hasler	As expected, Manly decimated an under-manned and divided Cowboys. Eagles on track.
4	4	John Cartwright	Disappointing final 60mins against Dogs. Still, has a new team firing and that counts for a lot.
4	3.5	Brad Fittler	Seems to have the Chooks back on track. His honesty with the press is refreshing as well.
3.5	4	Brian Smith	The Knights were lax in defence for the first time this season in a bad effort. No Gidley or Buderus hurts.
3.5	3	Tim Sheens	Impressive in blasting Tigers despite a comfortable win. His eye can never be questioned.
2.5	3.5	Michael Hagan	The Eels are playing just awful, pathetic, heartless, structureless football. Hagan needs results.
2.5	3.5	Ivan Cleary	The road problems are becoming a serious problem…could prove the Warriors undoing again.
2	1.5	Matt Elliott	Winning covers wounds even if it doesn't heal them. Finally getting some flow in attack.
1.5	1	Neil Henry	Could not be happier with the Raiders demolition of the hapless Rabbits.
1	1	Steve Folkes	Folkes would be pleased with the comeback but horrified at the start. Things may have turned around.
0.5	0.5	Nathan Brown	The Saints were dominant but they were playing a team of kids. Needs consistency in efforts.
0	0.5	Graham Murray	Murray has resigned…farewell, old son.
0	0.5	Jason Taylor	Disgraceful does not begin to describe Souths effort. I wish there was an adjective to tell how bad they were.

The Colin Best Express Fan Revue…The Colin Best Express has bestowed the following nicknames on his Raiders teammates:

Bronx Goodwin: The Bronx Bomber
Adrian Purtell: DVT aka Deep Vein Throm-fucking-bosis
David Milne: The Axe
Todd Carney: TC
Terry Campese: Square Root aka The Square Root of TC
Glen Turner: GT Performance
Dane Tilse: Big D
Nigel Plum: The Professor
Josh Miller: The Cannonball
Trevor Thurling: Double T
Ben Jones: Trevor Thurling

Round Ten in 1997, Super League…Canterbury defeated the Hunter Mariners 48-36 on Monday Night Football in one of the worst displays of defensive rugby league ever seen…Fifteen tries were scored with Hazem El Masri scoring four and Simon Gillies two…Superstars Craig Wise, Nick Zisti and Darrien Doherty scored for the Mariners…Darren Lockyer scored fourteen points in the Broncos 34-18 win in Auckland over the Warriors…The Raiders defeated Cronulla 22-8 in a match-up that would play itself out in the preliminary final…Adelaide and North Queensland drew 14-all in what could be the least cared about, most forgettable game of rugby league in the last quarter century.

Game of the Year Nomination, Round 10…Gold Coast-Canterbury, 24-20. This was the best of an ordinary weekend of rugby league. Defensively, there have been few worse rounds played. Scott Prince and Jason Robinson proved the difference in the Titans-Bulldogs clash. Prince’s class and Robinson’s incompetence. The Titans bounded from the gates before a stirring Dogs comeback was stifled by a ridiculous forward pass ruling that should see Robinson castrated forthwith. It was the first sign of a Dogs revival and that is at least something.

Great Canterbury Backrower of Yesteryear…Travis Norton. When Travis arrived from South Queensland during Super League, my heart was filled with hate. He was replacing Terry Lamb at five eighth and he was not doing a particularly good job. But he shifted to lock and became a hard working defender with a great deal of impact in attack. At his best, he was a very good player. When he left for the Cowboys in 2004, it bought great sadness to many Canterbury fans. He, by all reports, is now a fireman.

Fantasy Players of the Week…Braith Anasta, Frank Pritchard, Jamie Soward, Scott Prince, Luke Lewis, Matt Orford, Simon Mannering, Nathan Friend, Brett Hodgson, Todd Carney, Mark O’Meley.

Surprise Fantasy Players of the Week…Chris Bailey, Adam Cuthbertson, Michael Jennings, Jason Nightingale, Beau Scott, Will Chambers, Corey Hughes, Josh Miller, Setaimata Sa, Michael Lett, Heath L’estrange, Benji Marshall.

Rebecca Wilson-Danny Wiedler, Scorecard…This week the points go to Wiedler. While Wilson gushed over Michael Clarke, Wiedler revealed the existence of the “I Hate Shannon Heggarty Facebook group. One reason why such a group was setup can be seen here. Wiedler is hitting the hard stories. Wiedler gets this round 10-7, for amusement if nothing else. For those after another winning Facebook group, join this puppy that sums it all up in the title.

And One Final Thought…It may be sad that Brett Kimmorley is wanted at my club but that is what happens after years dealing with the ineptitude of Brent Sherwin and Daniel Holdsworth. Kimmorley has experience, he plays the game hard and he plays with common sense more often than not. He won’t save Canterbury but he will at least put the Bulldogs on an even keel. That won’t be until 2009, however, and until then we will most likely have to deal with that uber-myth Daniel Holdsworth. Aaron Groom was threatening with the ball on debut but he was a touch vulnerable defensively and Steve Folkes, without an eye for the future, will play Holdsworth ahead of him. Of course, I would take a decade of Daniel Holdsworth in the blue and white number seven than a single game of Joe Williams. Never have I been filled with as much fear as I was when word came down the wire that Williams was now a Bulldog.