What has caught my eye in the 1st round?
Field Of Dreams
The Dolphins v Rabbitohs game was switched due to a tropical low and played at the state-of-the-art CommBank Stadium. But did you see the turf tearing up? It looked like one of those GPS graphics was being added for every step and swerve of each run. Except it was the grass.
It’s as bad as when the grounds staff came out with a pitchfork at the flooded Allianz Stadium last year or previously when Suncorp Stadium resembled a beach.
Maybe these big stadiums should contact the local councils running boutique grounds like Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. The surface looked like a billiard table even after the NSW Cup game played prior to the main game.
Return to Tiger Town
There is a lot of positive buzz going around the Wests Tigers now they have superstar Jarome Luai in their squad.
Is it the year they finish 16th? Some are being as bold to say they’ll be playing finals football. I personally haven’t picked them winning their 4th consecutive spoon either.
Even the commentators went overboard fawning over Luai when the Tigers scored last week;
What great work from Jerome Luai. He gets the ball and the defence doesn’t know whether he will kick or pass.
It was a simple pass play that any Tipster could have completed.
And that’s the problem(s). The Wests Tigers could only manage to score once. Their defence was again horrible, and it was only the fact the Knights were poor and all close decisions went the Tigers way that kept them in the game.
This round the Tigers will be at full strength with the return of Api Koroisau and Jahream Bula taking on a shellshocked Eels team coming off a hiding from the Storm. And now, with the knowledge their five-eighth Dylan Brown will be leaving at the end of the season.
This game is already a must win for the Wests Tigers. Unfortunately for their fans, I feel there smiles and hopes will fade again this week.
That’s A Lot of Years
Eels’ half Dylan Brown has announced he will be leaving at years end to join the Newcastle Knights on a monster 10-year deal worth $13M.
That is a lot of money for a long time. The current salary cap is $9.4M for 30 players. The Knights have locked up a quarter of this with Brown and Kalyn Ponga.
There are only two players who have previously inked 10-year deals (Jason Taumalolo – Cowboys) and (Daly Cherry-Evans – Manly) with DCE being the only one worth every cent.
And most coaches don’t last more than four years. Only Wayne Bennett (Broncos 1st stint), Craig Bellamy (Storm) and Ricky Stuart (Raiders) have coached 10+ years at one Club. Knights coach Adam O’Brien is in his 6th year and for him to see out Brown’s contract is unlikely to happen.
I think this decision will become another admin and coaches’ problem down the track. It certainly wreaks havoc with the Eels longer term plans. Their fans will be livid having already seen King Gutho and Blaize Talagi shown the door.
Coward Chucker Charged
I don’t normally give clowns any airtime. We have all seen the footage. I hope the NRL also bans his mate that film the incident. Mr Chuck-and-Hide faces Sutherland court next month.
I bet he doesn’t have the courage to offer a face-to-face apology to the Bulldogs supporter.
Enjoy the football this weekend. Good luck with your team and your tips.
Rob
The Creator
Image(s) Courtesy: The Creator, Daily Telegraph, AAP
