NRL screws the fans again

The NRL announced today that all Sydney finals game will be forced to play at either the Sydney Football Stadium or ANZ Stadium starting next season. I have to admit I laughed when I first heard the decision and thought it was hilarious that NSW teams are screwed. Then it dawned on me - the only people getting screwed are the Sydney fans.

I hate clubs like Souths, Manly and the Roosters with a passion. It's part of who I am - you only need to look back at the pillaging they did to Brisbane clubs prior to the Broncos to see what fuels my hate. The problem is that the fans aren't the ones who did that - I love my footy just as much as they do and if I was forced to trek to Skilled Park to watch a 'home' final I'd be devastated as well.

The NRL is attempting the justify this by saying that due to increased membership numbers, this guarantees the best seats in the house for as many fans as possible. Sure, that is remotely logical but can you really shaft a few thousand people by making them sit in the cavernous ANZ Stadium or the SFS? Seems like Gallop thinks so.

Just another example of why a change needs to occur in key positions of the powers that be in the NRL. Think about the fans for once, guys.

Well well well....

Today it was announced that the NRL has blocked the contract that Souths had submitted for Greg Inglis. I was wary of the whole situation given the talent Souths already have and this outcome justifies that suspicion.

I must admit I had a bit of a chuckle at the whole thing. Souths fans were quick to jump on the bandwagon that Brisbane were boasting Ingli$'s signing and yet now they are being mocked for doing the exact same. Even their owner did it - their defence is that the contract was submitted and signed by Greg. Pro tip lads - he isn't yours either until the NRL agree. Now the public are eagerly awaiting South's next move in this chess game of greed. South's will likely have to unload a player or even two with Roy Asotasi looking to get the axe. I feel for Roy because he hasn't had the best time at South's and that's not to say it's the clubs fault though, it just hasn't worked out for the bloke.

To sum my opinion of this whole situation and Greg Inglis - suck shit.

Until next time Ranters,

Waldo.

Dane Carlaw on his way back to Red Hill?

While I was waiting for my coffee this morning I picked up the paper and read that Dane Carlaw is applying for a release from Catalans to return to Australia. The word from the Broncs is that they are waiting until an official release to occur and since the Ingli$ drama, who can blame them.

Dane was a very solid backrower who notched up 13 caps for the Maroons and scored one of the more memorable tries in recent Origin memory (see video below, around 3:00. Pretty decent video overall actually). He's since been plying his trade overseas with some success and it appears Monaghan might be headed that way as his replacement.

Given the Broncos have Te'o, Parker, Thaiday, Anderson, Gillett and young Rohan Ahern as backrow options, it might be an idea to get him to add some depth but I'm not sure if it'll end up that way. Surely he wouldn't settle for a non-First Grade spot but who knows, the Broncos have a history of giving old fellas a run again.

Two Broncos named in the Indigenous All-Stars

One of the highlights of last season was without the doubt the NRL All-Stars vs. Indigenous All-Stars match. It provided an early taste of what the NRL season had to offer and offered a platform for Indigenous players to strut their stuff and represent their people. Sam Thaiday and Jharal Yow Yeh have been named in the side and the rest of the team is as follows:

Preston Campbell (c) (Titans)
Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs)
Willie Tonga (Cowboys)
Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs)
Scott Prince (Titans)
Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders)
Travis Waddell (Raiders)
George Rose (Sea Eagles)
Jamal Idris (Bulldogs)
Greg Bird (Titans)
Ben Barba (Bulldogs)
Jamie Soward (Dragons)
Carl Webb (Eels)
Cory Paterson (Knights)
Joel Thompson (Raiders)
Ryan James (Titans)
Matt Bowen (Cowboys)

It's safe to say that this side will be as entertaining as ever to watch with the likes of Thurston, Bowen, Campbell and Tonga throwing it around. It will be interesting to see the NRL All-Stars side when it's announced and if Lockyer will line up for them. Personally I'd like to see him take a step back from Rep footy but it's his choice naturally. Also interesting to see Carl Webb get a shot as he hasn't exactly set the world on fire for and a number of years now. Barba is also a bit of a bolter and a good side story has arisen with Greg Inglis retuning to face the sure to be angry fans at Suncorp.

Personally I can't wait!

Until next time ranters,

Waldo.

Potential 2011 Team

While our roster doesn't appear to be set in stone yet, I thought I'd have a crack at what our team could potentially be for Round 1, 2011. By my estimates, the squad will be:

1. Josh Hoffman
2. Denan Kemp
3. Justin Hodges
4. Dale Copley
5. Jharal Yow Yeh
6. Darren Lockyer (c)
7. Peter Wallace
8. Ben Hannant
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Shane Tronc
11. Ben Te'o
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Corey Parker

14. Matt Gillett
15. Nick Kenny
16. Alex Glenn
17. Ben Hunt

The forwards pick themselves really, Dunamis Lui/David Hala/Mitch Rivett are too green for regular NRL play at the moment. Dodds and Anderson can consider themselves unlucky however with a solid pre-season and good trial form they may make it in the side at the expense of Kenny or even Tronc.

In the backs department, there is a bit more competition with the likes of Gerard Beale and Dane Gagai hot on the heels of Hunt and Kemp. Rohan Ahern is a rank outsider and the Toyota Cup will do him some good.

The above is all dependant on injuries of course and the one everyone will be watching is Hodgo. After a year on the sidelines he should be 100% injury free but will naturally be a bit rusty. Here's hoping that he can hit the form that made him an automatic Kangaroos selection again.

Until next time,

Waldo.

Player Movement Rumours

Just a short and sharp post from me tonight. Word on the street is that since the Inglis deal fell through and the Broncos have money to burn, they are apparently aiming up for Billy Slater or Willie Tonga.

While you'd be mad to say no to the number 1 fullback in the game (and we've had a pretty decent run of fullbacks dating right back to Julian O'Neill and more recently Darren Lockyer and Karmichael Hunt), Tonga is better fit for our side currently. I've got faith in Copley to come good but Tonga has had a cracker of a season and put on some stellar performances in an otherwise uninspiring Cowboys team. I'll admit I was a doubter mid-season but he would definitely bring something to the Broncos for 2011.

Until next time ranters,

Waldo.

Inglis Saga comes to an end

The Greg Inglis saga continues but the Broncos involvement has ended. In what can only be described as a fantastic decision, the Broncos have withdrawn their contract offer which leaves Inglis as a relatively free agent in the Rugby League world.

Rumour has it that Andrew Gee sat down with Inglis on Friday and asked for Greg's commitment in relation to the Broncos. Allegedly he gave a verbal agreement to Gee and then headed down to Sydney to talk to Shane Richardson and South Sydney. Gee issued a 24 hour deadline for commitment from Inglis and this deadline elapsed without a peep from him.

This decision is an extremely positive one for the Broncos. It shows our own players, and other of course, that no one man is bigger than the team. What makes me laugh a little is that Greg has said that he turned us down for "personal reasons" and that he is looking out for himself. Considering the deal was going to be around $500,000 and he was released on compassionate grounds initially anyway, I find this hard to believe. That being said, good luck to you but prepare for a hostile welcome whenever you trek up here.

A few people have been fairly critical of Bronco fans for jumping on and off the Inglis bandwagon. The fact is he openly stated he wanted to move with his girlfriend, convinced his club to release him (Storm fans should be more concerned with that than us) and then he turns his back on Brisbane but also lies to the Storm? Get out of here.

Souths appear to be the front runners in courting Inglis and best of luck to them. All I can say is I'll be very interested to see what Gallop and Ian Schubert have to say if that happens, especially in relation to Souths salary cap situation. Now we wait and see what we do with the free cash...

Until next time ranters,

Waldo.

Australia vs. New Zealand Preview

This weekend sees the match that we've all been waiting for. PNG are barely on the radar, as are England. Australia vs. New Zealand should be an absolute cracker. The Australian side entering this clash is:

1. Darius Boyd
2. Brett Morris
3. Brent Tate
4. Chris Lawrence
5. Lote Tuqiri
6. Todd Carney
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Matt Scott
9. Cameron Smith (c)
10. Dave Shillington
11. Greg Bird
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Paul Gallen

Interchange (one to be omitted):

14. Dean Young
15. Petero Civoniceva
16. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
17. Robbie Farah
18. Kurt Gidley

This game signals a number of changes that Sheens insists is form related. Sorry mate but Lockyer and Slater are 100% locked in for the final, injury permitting. Boyd and Carney are fantastic young players who will get the job done but quite frankly their time will come. The story is a little different with the number 4 jersey as I think Lawrence can legitimately seal his spot in the final with a cracking performance on the weekend. Tonga has had a fantastic season but so has Lawrence and the West Tigers connection out wide carries a bit of weight.

Matt Scott's inclusion in the starting line-up may very well signal a changing of the guard in terms of Props. Petero will forever be remembered as a workhorse that did Brisbane (and Penrith I guess), QLD and Australia well much in the same way Webcke is but his time is slowly coming to an end. Scott however is similar in the sense that he is a big lad who runs hard, never gives up and provides constant go-forward.

Time to take aim at the selection of Kurt Gidley again. For some reason a lot of fans have it in their heads that he is a brilliant fullback. Pro tip guys - if he was that good, why would NSW constantly play him out of position and have an overrated hack in his place? Let's assume he plays this weekend - are they going to sit out Dean Young and leave themselves short a big man on the bench? Or drop a legitimate hooking option in Farah and have Gidley cover Smith? It just boggles the mind to be honest.

Enough about selections, what can we expect from the match? The Aussies will need to brace themselves heading into Eden Park. I expect the Kiwi's to be ready to play and will come out strong as always. The first 20mins should lay the platform for the dominant side to bring it home but that being said, both teams have the strike power and endurance to make this a memorable game. Australia has a superior side across the park as far as I'm concerned however with blokes like Benji, Waerea-Hargreaves and SKD you can never be too confident.

Prediction? Let's see if I can get close again. Australia wins 20-18. Stay tuned in the coming days for a review and also a solid rant on Monaghan and the "Man's Best Friend" incident.

To Wallace or not to Wallace...

One topic that has been hot among Brisbane fans in recent times has been Peter Wallace and if he is what the team needs moving forward. Wallace joined Brisbane from Penrith in 2008 and on the whole has been sub-par in relation to other halfbacks.

Yours truly did a bit of number crunching and I found that out of the regular halfbacks, Wallace ranks as follows:

Tries - tied last
All Runs - 2nd Last to Sandow
All Run Metres - 2nd Last to Sandow
Line Breaks - 4th last with Foran, Cronk, Prince
Offloads - tied 3rd last
Tackles - 5th
Missed Tackles - 7th
Errors - 5th

The popular opinion is that Wallace is a very solid defensive halfback but he doesn't really stack up against the likes of Hornby, Cronk and Foran. In terms of line breaks, offloads and metres gained it seems he isn't that flash either. The other thing that is lacking in my opinion is his long passing game. Sure he doesn't get to show it much with Lockyer calling the shots but it's still a necessary part of any halfback's arsenal.

The above is a purely statistical standpoint which sometimes doesn't say the whole story. When watching Wallace in defence he often shuts down opposition players by himself and in attack he tends to offset Lockyer's passing with more ball running. He is still yet to develop into an attacking ball runner like Thurston but that should come with time.

So really the above still leaves us in limbo about good old P Wal. In State of Origin in 2008 he was NSW Halfback so the kid can play. He was in the form of his life up until the point he ruptured his testicle. I hate to say it but it seems a dislodged ball is enough to derail a football player. Players always take time to recover from injuries. Minichello is a prime example - he suffered a back injury and subsequently had more time off the field than on it. This year he rediscovered his form and was one of the better fullbacks in the NRL. His comeback was from a back injury which is far more substantial and limiting than a ruptured testicle.

With Lockyers potential retirement looming, the Broncos need to look for a halfback that will steer the side into the oncoming decade. Wallace is a solid halfback but for far too long have we gone without a game breaking halfback. The hunt for a new halfback needs to begin now. Or let's bring back Alf.

Robert Finch steps down from Referee's Boss position

Like most things in life, there's always an upside and a downside. A pro and a con. Robert Finch today announced that he would be stepping down as Referee's Boss as the end of the Four Nations tournament. The crew here at Red Hill Rants have generally been critical of the bloke given he manages to appear completely inept at times. In his defence, he has probably the worst job in the NRL - you pretty much always come out being the bad guy and you have to make many difficult decisions.

The upside to losing Finch is that it opens the door for someone to step up and show all and sundry how it is done. I don't doubt Finch's integrity as I'm sure he was always doing what he felt was right but the fact is that feeling was sometimes off the mark. A fresh face is what the referee's need after this season which can be dubbed the Year of the Howler.

The downside is that while it opens the door for someone, that someone may very well be Bill Harrigan. Greg McCullum (current Match Review Commissioner) is the front runner however Bill and fellow gronk Steve Clark are also in the picture. Greg would be a logical choice welcomed by the Rugby League community - generally speaking the judiciary get it right and you have to think he can be thanked for that in part. Harrigan is known for thinking he is bigger than the game itself and was nicknamed Hollywood for his attitude in relation to his position. Do we really want a guy who has been dropped countless times for errors in charge of the whistleblowers?

Best of luck to Finch on his future endeavours and let's hope that common sense prevails with the appointment of Greg McCullum as Referee's Boss.

A few tidbits of Broncos news

A short and sharp post from me today. There's a bit of news floating around so I thought I'd give you all a quick run down of the happenings at Red Hill.

John Te Reo given another shot

John Te Reo has been given another shot after he was sent packing along with Ian Lacey for alleged involvement in an incident that left a man hospitalised. Lacey has since signed with the Titans but is yet to play an NRL game.

Inglis a no-show to training

Not even worth mentioning, if only to highlight the amazing beat-up capabilities of the media. Inglis didn't show to training with the others on Monday. That's because he was getting rehab done on his shoulder. Nice one lads.

More Relevant Inglis news

Should Inglis's contract not go through as planned, there are no shortage of suitors waiting to pounce on the QLD and Australian star. Souths is keen along with a number of unnamed clubs, even French rugger clubs want a piece of him. I've got no doubt these rumours are true and considering the lack of integrity the Storm board have (or at least used to have, still waiting for them to redeem themselves) there's a chance this could happen. Let's hope not.

Australia vs. England Review

A friend of mine has a saying - "even the blind squirrel will find a nut eventually". 99% of the time I agree - odds are that something will go someone's way eventually. That 1% for me used to be England in the Ashes, we won't go there however. Now the English Rugby League team has taken that mantle well and truly.

My prediction of 30-12 wasn't too bad was it? Usually I'm wayyyy off but I have to thank the rain for this one. On a sunny day it would have been 60-10 easily. Luke Lewis had an absolute blinder until he was injured and really the whole side cruised it in for the win.

Apparently I was a little harsh in claiming I didn't know Sam Tomkin's name at all. Guess what - he did absolutely nothing except act as a punching bag for the Aussies. Do yourself a favour and come to Australia and get some QLD Cup into you. Really the whole English side were pathetic except for their captain, James Graham, and Luke Robertson. Graham proved he could hang with the Aussies and Robertson did the best he could behind an inept and lifeless pack.

England might beat PNG so the kids can go home saying they won a game. Australia look forward to New Zealand at the home of rugby, Eden Park in Auckland. The forecast is a rainy, windswept night with a high chance for entertaining football. Should be an absolute barnstormer of a game and I can't wait. Look out for a preview later this week and also an article on Broncos Halfback, Peter Wallace.

Until then Ranters,

Waldo.