Season 2008: Round 2

From The Couch

The Shoulder Charge…One would hope that the NRL does not take a reactionary stance and attempt to ban the shoulder charge. There were, without doubt, a number of unfortunate incidents involving the shoulder charge over the weekend that certainly did no favours for the image of the game. There have also been plenty of legitimate shoulder charges in recent times that have been used to advertise the gladiatorial nature of rugby league. It is an integral part of the game and must be kept. They have banned the shoulder charge in rugby union and we all know how hard that faux-sport is. Karmichael Hunt should be applauded for his hit on Braith Anasta, not charged or lambasted. It was unfortunate that Anasta broke his nose but the hit was entirely legal. Keep the shoulder charge and to hell with all those who argue otherwise.

Video Referee Screed #2…It is a rare moment indeed that Phil Gould and your ever-thinking author are in full agreement but when Gus went on his bile-filled rant about Steven Clark and his decision to disallow a Shaun Kenny-Dowall try on the basis of an obstruction, I listened with agreement and affection. The decision was appalling and rewarded a bad defensive read while penalising clever ball movement. This kind of absurdity went on all 2007 and it looks like it will continue in 2008. It appears that after fifteen years of refereeing first grade rugby league, Steven Clark still does not understand the sport. The NRL needs to start again and hire a fresh team to undertake video refereeing duties. If they don’t, there is a very good chance that there will be some violent displays of civil disobedience in the very near future.

Video Referee Screed #3…Saturday night may well have been called the Night of the Screw Job. That is probably going a little too far but two appalling decisions by two video referees cost two teams significantly. Both Penrith and Manly had tries disallowed due to a player being inside the ten off a kick despite taking no part in the play. Both decisions were ridiculous and both decisions lacked common sense. The NRL needs to hammer into these fools the ethos of rugby league.

Oh Lord, Almighty One, May We Have Seen The Last of Matt Utai…
Oh Lord, please! Once again, the old formula of targeting Matt Utai was working, this time for South Sydney. It does not take a genius to reach the conclusion that Utai is a total and utter liability in defence and an abject failure as a first grade footballer. He should have been dropped years ago, for his mercy and mine. Steve Folkes has, however, persisted with him. After seeing Tim Winitana perform on the wing, Folkes must now bite the bullet and put an end to the career of Matt Utai at Canterbury. When Utai returns from injury, it should be in the New South Wales Cup.

And One More Thing, Steven Folkes…the Bulldogs were a totally different outfit with Michael Sullivan at hooker and Corey Hughes on the pine. The Dogs took control of the ruck, gained plenty of momentum and had time for Ben Roberts to operate. Surely the time for Corey Hughes to go has come.

Gut-Wrenching Injury #1…Willie Zillman. The Raiders have precious few game winners and Zillman was one. He is now consigned to the sidelines for the rest of the season and the Raiders will be a lot less threatening as a result.

Gut-Wrenching Injury #2…Reece Williams. The unheralded Sharks backrower makes an impact on both sides of the ball and will be sorely missed in the Shire. Gallen and Bird get the press and the rep honours but Williams is a talented ballplayer and hard-working defender and the Sharks will hurt without his services.

Manly 90210…those scouring the Sydney Morning Herald player ratings would have been somewhat amused to see that former Beverly Hills 90210 star Luke Perry had made his NRL debut against the Knights on Saturday night. Perry was somewhat quiet, given only a five out of ten rating. Nevertheless, it was most likely a greater contribution than his “brother” Josh, who managed to cost the Eagles a road victory by laying a headbutt on new Knights forward Danny Wicks. The hot word is Jason Priestly could be on the verge of breaking through as the fourth Rabbitohs halfback of 2008.

Bitches #1…North Queensland. They play cheap side-to-side football, they have as much respect for the ball as they do for their coach and tackling appears to be not all that fashionable in Townsville. The Cowboys are in for a long season if they don’t toughen up and start playing smart, direct football.

Bitches #2…Gold Coast. The Titans were useless on Monday Night, clearly thrown off by the rain and the travel. Of particular note was the appalling performance of Mat Rogers, less than a week after offering a mixture of inaccuracy and lunacy in analysing the performance of Johnathan Thurston in round one. Rogers was hopeless and should keep his mouth shut in future. 

Coaching Stocks…

Value	LW	Coach	Comment
5	5	Michael Hagan	His only concern is player discipline + getting his halves right.
5	5	Craig Bellamy	The best and a close defeat won't hurt his standing.
4.5	4	Des Hasler	Lost his first two but recently re-signed and will be given time.
4.5	4	Ricky Stuart	Test coach who has given the Sharks two wins over the 2007 GF teams.
4	4	Jason Taylor	Two losses not helpful but has backing of Crowe et al.
3.5	3	Tim Sheens	Already a great. Two straight wins have Tigers fans right behind him in 2008.
3	3	John Cartwright	He needs to get the Titans playing the same away as they do at home.
3	3	Ivan Cleary	Beating Parra was crucial. He is a coach on the up.
3	3	Brad Fittler	Lost nothing in the controversial defeat to Brisbane. Tactics are concerning.
3	3	Wayne Bennett	His fine start with the Broncos show why he is the best. Gets choice of '09 gig.
2.5	2	Neil Henry	Chased by Brisbane and Cowboys. Raiders want him longer. On the up.
1.5	2	Graham Murray	No job in '09,  rumours of player unrest and two straight losses. Not good.
1.5	1	Brian Smith	If he keeps winning, 2007 will be forgotten.
1	1	Steve Folkes	Big win over Souths. Keeping Sullivan on was smart. Needs to drop Utai.
0.5	1	Matt Elliott	Penrith are playing dumb. Still in the rut of 2007. He may be gone in a month.
0.5	0.5	Nathan Brown	Titans win helps but he is getting whipped from every quarter.

 

The Manu Vatuvei Game…There is very little as entertaining as the Manu Vatuvei Game. It typically involves an eclectic mixture of appalling handling errors (usually from kicks), long distance tries and the comedy of his essentially expressionless face giving just a subtle hint of what just occurred. The Manu Vatuvei Game is highly enjoyable for all those who have not had a single penny on the game. For those who have, well, doctors have warned against it. Sunday was Manu Vatuvei Game number two for 2008. Lets hope there are many, many more before he sees out his career in reserve grade.

Down Memory Lane…The Sunday Roast remembering Australia’s greatest touch-judge. The big, baldy dome of Martin Weekes was a staple in all the big games of the eighties and nineties and it was wonderful to hear Mark Geyer reminisce, with some fondness, the day he got suspended for hurling a water bottle at Weekes. The memories, oh, the memories.

Team Dumb Enough To Play A Man Who Spent Six Minutes Unconscious Eight Days Previous…the Cronulla Sharks.

Round Two in 1988…Competition newcomers Brisbane made it two from two with a 20-18 win over Penrith…Manly took the Northern Sydney derby by touching up the Bears 44-18 with Michael O’Connor scoring twenty points…the Newcastle Knights recorded their first ever win with a 20-16 win over the Western Suburbs Magpies…the Gold Coast Giants claimed there first competition point with an 18-18 draw with Illawarra…Souths beat Easts in a kicking classic, winning 16-14 in a game that took in nine goals.

Great Canterbury Backrower of Yesteryear…Jamie Feeney.

Fantasy Players if the Week…Feleti Mateo, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Brent Tate, Anthony Tupou, Matt Cooper, Liam Fulton, Cameron Smith, Willie Mason.

Surprise Fantasy Players of the Week…Michael Witt, Phil Graham, Evan Tumivave, Chris Houston, Jeff Lima, Rangi Chase, Grant Rovelli.

Rebecca Wilson-Danny Wiedler, Scorecard…Rebecca Wilson is on leave. We can all be thankful of that. Perhaps it is a response to her involvement in the defamation of Garry Flowers? Either way, we are all beneficiaries. Round two goes to Wiedler, who may well be the last man standing. Wilson down for the count…

And One Final Thought…Cheapness. There were some low acts over the weekend and in most instances, the perpetrators are well known for such behaviour or softness, at any rate. It surprised nobody that Josh Perry was the man penalised for headbutting an opponent. He has been ousted for thuggery before. The cheap retaliation of Luke O’Donnell was also of no shock as he has a history of behaving like a bitch, even if it costs his team. And Ben Ross, well, we could write an essay on how cheap his elbow to the head of Cooper Cronk as he kicked for the corner. It was a malicious and dumb act and Ross should be thrown out for at least three months. Ricky Stuart, who wanted Ross out of the Sharks last season, will most likely attempt to move him on at some point in 2008.