Alphabetasport

Sports Tweets of the Week

2011-11-02T21:19:00.000+13:00

This week on twitter a broadcasting heavyweight and a computer geek had an interesting exchange:

Pretty tame stuff I know, but the response to this fairly innocuous looking tweet is hilarious:

Ahh classic stuff. Right down to the "Meow".

Of course as is often the case in the twitterverse cooler heads prevailed and no one cried. Don't you just love twitter?

Random Impertinent Questions

2011-11-02T00:43:00.004+13:00

Q- Where to from here? Rugby World Cup 2011 has been and gone. The conversation has switched from groins, anxiety, and filthy frogs to Knighthoods, Sonny Bill Williams, and Ted’s fishing plans. What’s next for the All Blacks and their fans?
A- Who cares? Seriously, who really cares? The natural order of the universe has been restored and we sit at the top branch of the tree of life. Others harbour regret and rue missed opportunities while we bask in the glow of that little replica cup sitting at the NZRU headquarters. Four more years people. I encourage you to ring a friend in Saffaland, Froggyland, Pomgolia, Wales, or the big penitentiary across the Tasman to remind them who won and lost what. Email me your phone bill and I'll pay for the phone call.

Q- Excited about the Black Caps tour of Libya?
A- Only until Jacob Oram gets injured or Jesse Ryder needs a runner and then I'll probably lose interest.

Q- What’s going on with the NBA lockout?
A- Fuck the NBA. After last year’s disappointment I can wait. I’m more than happy to spend more time talking to my wife over the summer months if it means I don't have to be reminded about that choke. Fuck the NBA and fuck LeChoke James.

Q- The 2012 NRL market has opened with the Warriors at $9, is it worth a punt?
A- A definite yes. Our young team looks good and strong, and the experience of the playoffs as well as the Grand Final disappointment will help them grow as footballers. The addition of 80 minute tackling machine and dummy half specialist Nathan Friend will free up a bench spot and provide momentum for our big boppers. Friend is very good at taking a few steps from dummy half and finding big men hitting the ball at pace on the advantage line. It’s no surprise to me that the Gold Coast Titans have floundered in his absence. I have only one concern and that’s in the centres, and with Bluey taking the helm. Time will tell.

Q- Who’s going to win the election?
A- Who cares. Either way we are poked. Refer to the answer to the question at the top of the page and forget about the folly and futility of politics.

Q- If Thierry Dusatoir is the best rugby player in the world, then what is Jerome Kaino?

Q- Kim Kardashian anyone?

The Aussies are Sooks

2011-11-01T22:50:00.002+13:00

We lost the game 26-12 and despite a small glimmer of hope when we snuck back to 16-12 in the second half, we never really looked composed or clinical enough to threaten the Aussies. As is often the case, we fell behind early and were forced into chasing the game, errors came and the opposition capitalised on our mistakes.

Of course we are missing key personnel and we lack quality centres; the direct result being our flanks being exploited by the crafty Lockyer and his three quarters. We will get better, we always do in tournaments or series, and I think the Aussies are a little bit rattled.

What makes me think that?...

''Play hard but don't play dirty,'' Williams said. ''Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and all of those guys… that was something I don't like and I will back up my boys any time. I don't think it was suitable and we will just have to give it back to them. Hopefully we will have a chance to [play] them, I would love to 'verse' them again.''

That’s from the SMH, it’s Tony Williams, a behemoth of a man who goes by the moniker T-Rex. The first point I'd like to make is that this bloke is a fob. "Verse them," geez it’s quite clear you can transplant the coconut to Sydney but you can’t take the coconut out of the coconut.The second point is stop being a poofter. This is international football contested between the fiercest of rivals; it’s the pinnacle of the sport. Don’t let the whole Origin propaganda and marketing fool you, those guys are all mates and that rivalry fizzled out about ten years ago much to Tommy Raudonikis's lament. Not only are the players all mates but some of the best players in the sport don’t play Origin. Some of the best players in our great game watch Origin from the comfort of their own lounge suites, just like you and I. But I digress.

What T-Rex is sooking about is the "Cannonball" tackle by Isaac Luke on David Shillington which saw the latter injured, a couple of marginal late tackles, and a hit on a kicker that was nothing. Real soft stuff for an international footy player to moan about.

The "Cannonball" tackle is a new phenomenon and another great piece of Craig Bellamy handiwork. It's the most recently developed technique used to control the ball carrier and win the ‘play the ball’, whereby two defenders wrap up the ball carrier holding him upright for a third to attack the back of his knees. Like other techniques developed by the cheating Storm, the potential for injury is high. Coincidentally or not, just like the grapple and chicken wing tackle, Melbourne players and particularly their skipper Cameron Smith are the techniques experts. As is always the case, it’s hilarious when the Australians cry foul. I’m willing to bet dollars to donuts that Cam Smith was involved in similar tackles on Kiwi players in that eighty minutes of football. It’s your technique, you developed it, and now we use it too. Until it’s outlawed stop whinging.

What Tony Williams and the Aussies really don’t like is that our boys have their measure. Brad Walter from the SMH commented on Telfer’s Radiosport show about the way Jarrod Warea-Hargreaves was "belting" his opposition. Between him, Jeremy Smith, and Ben Matulino, we could invade Australia tomorrow and take all their women folk while "T-Rex", Paul Gallen, and Matt Scott watch on sheepishly. Throw in Adam Blair who returns this week and our flag will be flying in Canberra.

International league between NZ and Australia is the new Origin; it’s physical, venomous and it means something. It’s a real rivalry.

In case you forgot, we are the defending Four Nations and World Champions and the Convicts hate it. They are the ones crying.

The Hex Is Over

2011-10-26T22:47:00.000+13:00

It’s over. Done and dusted; the demons exorcised; the King Kong sized gorilla is off the back. It was a game of two halves. Rugby was the winner at the end of the day.

Roll out all the clichés and spout them like a maniacal mantra. By my count you've got another week before it gets stale, and another week after that to argue about whether it’s now just time to shut the fuck up and get on with life, or to keep spouting. By that time, at least, the eye gouging nonsense would have died down unless of course the NZ Herald finds footage of one of the "Filthy Frogs" motorboating a penguin at Kelly Tarlton’s underwater world, or gets wind of Thierry Dusautoir’s kids killing the goldfish at a prominent Auckland restaurant.

We won and it was fantastic. The years of heartache and angst were, with eighty minutes, wiped from the nation’s collective memory. Together we breathed a sigh of relief and partied like it was 1999 (not the time at Twickers when the French dashed our World Cup dream, but the time Prince sang about, you know, "The Millenium"). We smoked weed in the streets in front of the police while the Chief of Police (not Wiggum, his name escapes me) talked to TV reporters about "sensible policing". What a night it was.

Since that time the country, or at least the part I am in, has had a Christmas feel about it. There is a degree of goodwill and cheer, and a willingness to offer a kind word to a stranger in the street which is not often experienced during the "regular season". It really does hammer home the significance and meaning of the All Blacks to our tiny nation.

For me personally it has ended a string of disappointments that started with that try at the Garden of Eden in 1994. Phillipe St Andre’s "try from the end of the world" which stole the three match series, the last series loss for the All Blacks at home. To my superstitious punting mind, that was the start of a kind of hex which centred around the All Blacks in crunch matches and fittingly featured the mercurial French in a cameo role akin to that of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jeckyll and Hyde.

In 1995 it was the "Suzie" conspiracy that hobbled an All Black machine which roared into the World Cup final in Saffaland only to fade at the finish line. There was John Hart’s experimentation in ’99, and the whinging about French foul play unbecoming of All Blacks. John Mitchell’s strange "journey" in ‘03 puzzled us all and the less said about the train wreck of Cardiff in ‘07 and Wayne Barnes, the better. With all these losses there was a massive amount of navel gazing, acrimony, and sheer nastiness which made all of us as a rugby nation look like childish sooks. Jilted lovers even, crying about what might have been, the cruel injustice of it all, and seeking a scapegoat to blame for our loss.

Thankfully because of what has happened over the last six weeks, and what Richie McCaw’s All Blacks have achieved, it’s all just a distant memory.

NZBlokes.co.nz

2011-08-15T12:21:00.000+12:00

Check out my latest rant about Steve "It was the best week of my life" Williams over at NZBlokes.co.nz

Round 22 NRL Tips

2011-08-04T18:38:00.002+12:00

Tigers v Dragons

A resurgent side against a fading one. The Tigers to me will emerge as a very real threat to the title race if they can maintain some momentum and keep their edge up front.

As for the Dragons, to me they look done. The players appear to have stopped buying into departing coach Wayne Bennett’s mantra, and they look tired where previously they were resilient. Punters who made long term investments in the Dragons will be very nervous.

I like the Tigers +4.5 at $1.82

Bulldogs v Cowboys

The Cowboys keep notching the wins even without their chief playmaker Jonathan Thurston. The forward pack from the tropics has really done a great job of making things easy for Matty Bowen and young Roy Thompson. Matt Scott and the beastly young Tariq Simms have been outstanding.

The Bulldogs are in turmoil after losing to the useless Chooks and they just look like a rabble.

I like the Cowboys to win at $1.80

Storm v Panthers

The Storm should be too strong in Convictoria but the short turnaround from Monday night football may make things interesting.
Follow on live betting. The Storm should get up at $1.18 but you may find some value if the Panthers start well.

Broncos v Warriors

I will cover this match in depth tomorrow.

Sharks v Titans

The Sharks should be too strong at home for the Titans, but it could be a very ugly match. My advice if you want to have a punt on it, is to keep an eye on the live betting and watch for Gallen’s injury/fitness status.

Perfect game to miss and bank some brownie points by mowing the lawn or following the lady around while she tries on shoes.

Otherwise look at the Sharks to win both halves at $1.70

Knights v Raiders

On current form and at home the Knights should be too good for the Raiders. At times we have seen the Knights’ middle third and left hand side carved by opposition sides, but I doubt the Raiders have the application or nous to do that for sustained periods of play.

Newcastle should be too good at $1.37

Manly v Roosters

The Roosters will cop the backlash from the Manly sides’ second forty capitulation to the Tigers. Des Hasler would have whipped his charges with barbed wire after last week’s effort, and you can be sure they will be amped up.

Take Manly -13.5 at $2.10. They are due a good performance.

Bunnies v Eels

The Bunnies can’t make the 8 and I expect that might bring the best out of them. No doubt at times with Sandow playing well they can put points on, but all too often they don’t start playing until games are well out of their reach.

The Eels on the other hand are an unlucky outfit with a funny looking team. The best thing for Steve Kearney will be watching his new acquisition for next season carving up his team.

Take the Bunnies at $1.60

All prices quoted are from the NZ TAB

Random Impertinent Questions

2011-08-04T18:23:00.000+12:00

Sport is good for so many reasons

Q. Whats more annoying, the anti Rugby World Cup media beat up or the rugby sycophants who keep perpetuating the “Third biggest global sporting event” myth?

Q. Still with the World Cup, where is NZ’s version of Larissa Riquelme? I know Kerre Woodham scared the bejesus out of every redblooded kiwi male but where are the beautiful, young, footy groupies offering to strip and parade down Queen St when Richie McCaw holds the trophy aloft? (I can almost feel a sort of adult themed Piped Piper of West Auckland musical coming on).

Q. Why do Cricket fans still carry on like their sport is squeaky clean and “gentlemanly”? The fact is Cricket is the most corrupt sport in the world, and no sporting gesture from any team’s captain will change that.

Q. Marina Erakovich. Would you?

Q. Have the Warriors missed a trick with Joel Moon? Moon is off to Pomgolia to play his football after being cut loose from Auckland. Was Moon unlucky to be dropped early on in the season when the forward pack and, as a result, the whole team struggled? To me, Moon is looking very good on the left hand edge and it’s no coincidence that Manu’s form has come good since Moon has been back. Something I forgot was that Moon is only 23. A lot of potential and he is looking very capable at the present time.

Q. Did anyone else catch Mark Hinton on Tony Veitch’s backbreaking breakfast show on Monday morning?

When asked about Kirk Penney’s decision to move to Spain where his wife will play volleyball, Hinton said:

“You’d know Tony - Happy wife, Happy life”

The silence was deafening.

Q. Now that a fourth man has been arrested for his role in the NRL betting scandal, will people like Martin Devlin and John Matheson who rubbished the initial claims as rumour on their Radiolive show now broach the issue?

Q. In last week’s RL Weekly magazines annual poll Jamie Soward was named the NRL’s most overrated player. If he isn’t, who is?

Q. Is the England “Black jersey” furore the stupidest thing since the All Blacks “Grey jersey” furore of Cardiff 2007? And why do these little controversies give me visions of train wrecks and copious amounts of tomato sauce?

Q. Why are the IRB, who did fantastically well to gouge the NZ taxpayer, telling kiwi hoteliers, retailers, and restauranteurs not to engage in price gouging?... Faggots.

Q. Why are Adidas such dickheads?

Q. How stupid does Steve Williams feel now?

Seriously, if there’s only one thing you learn from listening to Snoop Dogg’s 1993 multi-platinum classic Doggystyle, it’s that Bro’s come before Ho’s. Don’t let anyone tell you Rap music has no merit. If our Stevie had listened to more of it he would have learnt a very important lesson that may have saved him his job.

That’s all for now. If you have further information or photos regarding the Larissa Riquelme question, please contact me.

Bluey gets the Warriors job

2011-08-04T10:57:00.000+12:00

Brian McClennan has been named as the next coach of Alphabetasport’s rugby league team; the mighty Auckland Warriors.

Of course I have already made clear my opinion on who should coach my footy team, and I have some worries about Bluey’s appointment. I like Bluey, I like him a lot. I love his passion and I love the way that he openly loves the great game of rugby league the same way I do. When Bluey jumped around like an idiot after the 2005 Tri Nations final when we beat the Convicts 24-0, I did too. Remember that one?... It was the one when Manu fasi’d Matt King over the sideline.

I have already told you in previous posts about why I didn’t want Bluey to coach the Warriors so I have decided to focus on the positives, it could well be a masterstroke by Scurrah and Hart for the following reasons.

He’s a kiwi.

Yep, call me parochial but isn’t it a good appointment for that reason alone? I have been calling for the Warriors to focus on their own talent and to close the gates to Australian signings for some time. What better way to set that process in motion than by giving a Kiwi the top job?

Bluey is also an Aucklander. He knows the scene and the culture, he will relate to the coconuts well. He will also have, and establish fairly quickly, a network of scouts both city and country wide to identify the best talent. If anyone has connections in Auckland rugby league, it’s Bluey. He is a genuinely grassroots Auckland league guy.

He’s a motivator.

Much has been made of this and most of it has been negative. Personally, I wonder if our team might respond better to some passion, Ivan has been fantastic and I love him. I really love Ivan Cleary. Ivan, like any good coach, has improved his club while he’s been there and left it in better condition when he left.

Ivan Cleary has built a great foundation at the Warriors and with the outstanding talent we have coming from the Toyota Cup, it might be good to have a fresh voice to steer us ahead.

Bluey is the perfect candidate to fire up the troops. Ivan has left the club poised to launch an attack at the title, who better than Bluey to rark the lads up to win a premiership?

Contingency.

My understanding is that Tony Iro and John Ackland will be kept on in their current roles. Of course I could be wrong and that would be terrible for the club, but I understand that Bluey is keeping Iro and Ackland on board.

Bluey is going to keep the core team together and that is a good thing.

Ackland and Iro have been as much a part of the Warriors success as Cleary, and losing them would be detrimental to the club going forward. It will be interesting to see who Cleary takes with him to Penrith and, to be quite honest, it worries me.

Who else?

I wanted Tony Iro to have a crack but obviously that’s not happening. So in line with being a positive Warriors fan, here are some of the reasons I am happy Bluey got the job.

- Brian Smith- We make the grand final in his first year and then our club disintegrates.

- Matt Elliot- We don’t make a grand final and our club disintegrates .

- Daniel Anderson- What was wrong with Daniel Anderson. WHAT WENT WRONG???

- Pat Lam- Not the Blues coach but the bloke who wins all the awards for baking the best pie in the country. Yeah I know he isn’t a coach but he must be better than Pat Lam.

- Rupert Murdoch- At least we’ll know what the opposition are up to.

- Mal Meninga- Everyone will end up being called “Rats and Filth”

- Nathan Brown- Can you imagine what would happen if Nathan Brown slapped Ben Matulino?

- Mark Hammett- Haha I just added that to stick it up Horrorcanes fans.

So Bluey is our coach. I think it has some positives but only time will tell. He wasn’t my pick but I am willing to put all that aside because he is a great bloke and a very good rugby league man.

Go the Auckland Warriors.

Shane Cameron is all but finished

2011-08-02T16:58:00.000+12:00

Shane Cameron is all but finished.

Readers of this blog will know that I have been a vocal critic of Shane “The Mountain Warrior” Cameron. I found his disrespect for New Zealand’s greatest heavyweight boxer David Tua distasteful, and I made money and gained much happiness from his second round knock out at the hands of David.

I reveled in it, even got in a punch up with some local yokels who thought Dave was washed up and that Cameron had his measure. Of course I won that argument and the ensuing prizefight. I still have wagers to collect from those morons but that’s another story.

Many people have been critical of Cameron and their arguments have not been without merit. As a heavyweight, Shane was a pretender; far too small and lacking in genuine big banger power to make it in the boxing games heavyweight division. All the elements that have made smaller fighters or cruiserweights that made it in the “pay day” division were always lacking in Cameron’s arsenal.

Cameron is essentially a one dimensional plodder who lacks the head or foot movement to trouble taller fighters who are a dime a dozen in the heavyweight division. Repeated surgery to quell bleeding around the eyebrows and a suspect right hand have plagued him for years, and in a game that seeks excitement and bloody brutality for pay per view spectators, Cameron has never been a drawcard.

Evander Holyfield is the most successful cruiserweight to step up to the heavyweight division, possibly of all time. That massive step aside, he is one of the top ten fighters of his generation in any division. What Holyfield lacked in size he made up for in guile, ring-craft, and a fighting spirit that would have made the biblical Canaanites proud.

His defensive capabilities and an uncanny knack of ‘foxing” opponents, fooling them into thinking he was hurt or vulnerable, were special. He lured his opponent into a false sense of security and then pounced with crisp combinations that scored points or just stopped his adversary in his tracks. In my time, Holyfield is the best cruiserweight to make the transition.

Roy Jones Jr. was, for so many years, rated the best pound for pound fighter in the sport. He took advantage of a dearth of quality heavyweights and was able to win one of the alphabet soup heavyweight belts when he defeated John Ruiz. Roy’s game at the height of his career was tight; a complete fighter who was defensively sound, powerful in both hands, and smart. Despite the fact that he, like so many others, didn’t know when to quit does not tarnish his amazing record.

James Toney made a name for himself. He won a title as a heavyweight and, like Jones Jr., cashed in on the lack of quality heavyweights. I was never a fan but he carved out a career and is now part of the UFC circus.

Mike Tyson was of course the prototype for smaller heavyweights. He was never a cruiser but straddled the division in a similar fashion that Cameron did. That is of course where the similarities end.

At the height of his power, Iron Mike from Catskill, New York in the black trunks, black boots and no socks was a phenomenon. His ability to find his range early and make opponents miss was astounding. Many pundits made a lot of his vicious power and ability to jump on an opponent early, but what really made Tyson special were the things he did when he wasn’t throwing punches. His head and foot movement alongside his ability to penetrate taller fighters’ reach was ridiculous; he made it look easy. For a time, the many uneducated fans who flocked to the sport because of Mike’s amazing style and dominance thought that being five foot 6 and a half was an advantage.

Of course it wasn’t. Mike was just a once in a generation fighter who was probably an oversized cruiserweight that became a heavyweight for the more lucrative paydays and illustrious reputation.

More recently, Briton David Haye has been able to win a heavyweight title before his demolition at the hands of genuine heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko. Haye was, for a long time, talked up by some experts (particularly the Pomgolians who talked him up and then rubbished him when he fell in a manner befitting Wimbledon hopefuls Tim Henman and Andy Murray). The fact is, Haye was able to make the transition to the big boys division due to a lack of real quality competitors. The hiding he received from Klitschko and the subsequent excuses and bullshit he offered is testament to the fact he was a good cruiserweight fighting at a level above his ability.

Which leads me back to Shane Cameron. The fight against Dominic Vea was a great spectacle; it had all the drama and brutality a fight should, and I thought Shane showed the heart and guts that have been a hallmark of his career. Make no mistake, I have been critical of his skill and ability in the past, but I have never questioned his heart.

The weight loss and body change of Cameron to make the weight as a cruiser points to amazing dedication and discipline, which deserves massive kudos. 15 kgs from an already shredded frame is huge, and I don’t think enough has been made of the massive impact this sort of change has on a fighter. The ability to shed that much weight due to dietary restrictions alone is unfathomable, and says a lot about the guy’s guts, determination, and will to win.

Heart means a lot to Alphabetasport and we admire Shane for the amount of heart he has shown during his career. It’s unfortunate, but after a very good fight last month, the result of the main event leaves our boy out in the cold.

Antonio Tarver, at forty two years of age, unceremoniously destroyed Danny Green in a manner that made very clear the difference between Green, Cameron, Vea, and anyone else in the antipodes to any of the quality US, and particularly Mexican/Latino fighters going around at the present time.

I doubt Tarver will fight Cameron, and I can see Danny Green retiring at thirty seven after copping a hiding that was so one sided, he celebrated staying on his feet at the end of the ninth round thinking it was all over. His corner threw in the towel before the start of the tenth after he mistakenly embraced Tarver and then stumbled to his corner like a drunken Irishman on St Patrick’s Day.

Green was taught a lesson and given a beating at the hands of a fighter who beat Jones Jr. in his prime and went the distance with one of my favourite fighters, Bernard Hopkins.

Green was of course supposed to retain his title and then fight Cameron. That is all up in the air now.

It was a great win by Cameron and I admire his guts, but sometimes guts isn’t enough.

As a cruiser, I still question his KO power and his ability to catch a fighter with good feet and ring nous. Dominic Vea was a perfect match for Cameron’s style and is still a very raw fighter. At times in later rounds it could have been Vea’s fight, and that will concern the Cameron camp; a step up to a fighter of Danny Green’s capability may be a bridge too far.

I wish Shane Cameron all the best but I fear for his chances. I also wonder about the decision by Shane and his management to fight as a heavyweight initially in his pro career. I understand that paydays and exposure are important, but has it come at the cost of what could have been a promising career and a possible title shot as a cruiserweight?

I guess time will tell but Shane Cameron doesn’t have a hell of a lot of that left in his career.

We Are Back

2011-08-02T16:43:00.000+12:00

We are back. Like Iron Mike and that other Mike who came back from baseball. We are back and we are better than ever.

It’s funny because we haven’t really missed a lot.

A Black jersey story here, a test match against South Africa B there. It’s sort of the end of winter lull before any number of sporting storms will wreak emotional and financial havoc upon us. The sort of havoc that will have us crying into wives’, mistresses’, and assorted concubines’ arms. It was probably a good time to take a break before things start to really heat up.

I am excited but I also have that nervous tingle in the pit of my stomach. Like Marcellus Wallace said to Butch Coolidge:

“The night of the fight you may feel a slight sting. That’s pride fucking with you”

Well it’s not about pride for me. It’s the anticipation that stings and then starts fucking with me. The world of a true sports maniac becomes a waiting room in years like 2011; it’s just a series of waits in between the sort of emotional rollercoasters that can leave you with the frayed nerves of a woman driver strung out on junk. We wait and then we punish ourselves, we wait some more and the bloody cycle continues. The road to glory is littered with buckled and battered bodies, broken marriages, drug habits, and embittered women, but we will prevail.

The collective angst and petulant sulking of All Blacks fans before and after a World Cup exit is something to behold, a sort of warped view of the national psyche of the inhabitants of this strange little country. If Salvador Dali was commissioned to draw a painting of the average All Black fans dreamscape, what would he produce?

I can’t wait for it to be over. I can’t wait to feel the pain or joy, whichever it is. I just can’t wait to feel something, anything, deeply. I am almost certain Shortland Street has robbed me of my ability to feel anything in only two or three weeks of watching it.

Nonetheless, it’s good to be back.

2011-07-15T12:31:00.000+12:00

Alphabetasport Coach of the year.

I’d love to give this accolade to Mark Hammett for the upheaval he brought to the Hurricanes this year, and the unprecedented level of banshee-like shrieking from their fans that make an Aucklander like me glow inside.

However, this isn’t the Halberg awards and we, at Alphabetasport, reward excellence, not mediocrity (unless it’s the Warriors).

So the coach of the year by a mile is Reds coach Ewen McKenzie.

It’s a no brainer really, and the rise of the Reds in two seasons since the “Links” arrival in BrisVegas has been nothing short of sensational. I can picture John “possumhead” O’Neill right now kicking himself for appointing that other bloke as the Wallabies coach. That’s one thing that makes me feel better about things.

It’s no secret I am an admirer of McKenzie; he is on Twitter, very accessible, very honest, and candid when talking footy to like minded individuals. He has a great sense of humour and unlike many in sports management positions on this side of the ditch, he has utilized Twitter as a positive tool to use in attracting more people to rugby.

What really matters though, are results on the pitch, style, as well as the spirit the game is played in. And it’s that spirit and style that has made me a Reds fan this year.

On paper the Reds were easy to underestimate. Of course they had possibly the best scrum base combination in the game in Genia and Cooper, and some incredible pace out wide, but who has ever harnessed the extraordinary talent of Cooper? Who figured guys like Digby Ioane and Rod Davies could be the quickest and most incisive wingers in world rugby?

As for the forwards; the likes of skipper Horwill, Higgenbotham, Slipper, Faainga, and Beau Robinson. In fact the whole forward unit were outstanding all year long against much more celebrated opposition, and we, the punters, waited for them to fold under the pressure (I didn’t really, I tipped them a long way out to win it I just let my national allegiances get in the way of common sense). But it was always very clear to me that this was the best coached outfit in the race.

We all saw the weaknesses; a supposedly weak pack and scrum, the defensive gambit that saw Quade Cooper shuffled defensively, but none, not even the Blues or Crusaders, could exploit it.

It's testament to the Reds coach that he took a North Harbour discard in Mike Harris and turned him into a very capable second five until injury struck. Could Pat Lam have got the same results from the same player? He didn’t even want him. Looking back on the Blues season they might have done well with Harris in the backline.

When Harris went down with injury, McKenzie replaced him with previously unheralded Ben Tapueai who is now a Super Rugby trophy winner. He didn’t miss a beat and I put that down to coaching.

It doesn’t surprise me really, unlike many of our elite coaches McKenzie has had a long apprenticeship serving as an assistant at the Wallabies to Rod McQueen and Eddie Jones. He spent time as an assistant at Super Rugby level, as well as spending time in France coaching Stade Francais. He didn’t just retire from the game and turn up to coach the Hurricanes the next season.

One last point. When the Crusaders were bookies' favourites to win the final at $1.50, rather than taking the all too often and cliched road of claiming “Underdog” status, McKenzie voiced his annoyance and rightfully claimed that his side had been the best all season and deserved favouritism.

I like that in a leader and it's obvious his team responded.

Well done Ewen McKenzie, we salute you.

Friday Multi

2011-07-15T12:21:00.000+12:00

Get amongst some action people, the ITM cup is here.

Opt38 Southland $1.70
Opt55 Manawatu $3.75
Opt72 Northland $1.45
Opt148 Taranaki $2.35
Opt165 Auckland $1.50

Chuck them all together for a $32 return. Good Luck and enjoy the games.

All ITM cup odds are available at The TAB

Is Luke McAlister a sook?

2011-07-15T11:46:00.000+12:00

Hard to argue that he isn’t.

Pretty poor form by the former All Black in my opinion. He signed for Harbour in the NPC and on missing out on All Blacks selection, it looks as though he’s thrown the toys from the cot and is looking to hit the renege button on his contract. Off to Toulouse he goes.

Now I can sympathize with Luke given the fact he has an ill child, and I would do the same to be with my wife or children if they were unwell, but my understanding is that Pat Lam and the Blues were always kept in the loop re Luke’s comings and goings. Why couldn’t Luke call Liam Barry and North Harbour? And why the reluctance to talk to the media after going awol?

To me, McAlister has never been the same player since he filled in so admirably for Dan Carter in the 2005 Lions tour, where I think he reached his peak. His move to Sale and Northern Hemisphere footy seemed to blunt his natural ability and I have never really rated him since.

I kind of wonder if this decision and the way it’s been handled is almost indicative of a career that could have been so much better if only for some (dare I say it) better option taking and management.

Personally I wish Luke all the best in France, it’s a great place and I enjoy my time there quite often. I hope it goes well for him and the young fella gets better, but a phonecall to the boss might have saved some drama. As it stands McAlister now looks like a disloyal sook.

Weekly Winners and Losers

2011-07-13T13:13:00.001+12:00

Winner

New All Black Jarrad Hoeata is this week’s winner. Rewarded for a great season of Super Rugby, we wish the young buck well.

Loser

This week’s loser is Radiosport's Mark Watson. If you have ever had the misfortune of listening to this bitter and twisted wally, you start to see why the powers that be were so keen to sweep away Tony Veitch's disgusting crime. Clearly there is a dearth of sports broadcasting talent in this country if this "Patriot" is in a job. It's hard to imagine Martin Sneddon's pleas of kiwis hosting a good World Cup, no matter the result, being heeded with clowns like this getting airtime.

With all the Class and Grace of a Convict

2011-07-13T10:41:00.001+12:00

This Is Mals "Rats & Filth" rant that was first published in the Courier Mail
Awesome isn't it?
This from the bloke who won the series.

Like the city, the team once again stands triumphant, their success hiding the filth and rats that continue to linger in the sewers and dark corners, and masking the scars left by the menace that tried to cut it down.
What the Maroons achieved on Wednesday night was about more than a sixth straight series win, or a fitting farewell for a champion in our captain,
It was a victory against the very rats and filth that tried to poison a monumental team with lies, personal attacks, arrogance and disrespect.

Is it just me or is Big Mal looking to revisit his briefer than brief political career? The hyperbole and vitriol is just fantastic

Not so articulate then were you big guy?

Classic stuff from the Aussies. Ricky Stuart the world champion tantrum thrower carrying on about conspiracy theories during the series and Big Mal winning the series and bleating about conspiracy theories in a rant that would make Winston "Tsunami of Immigrants" Peters proud.

Its a shame really because all Mal had to do was walk away a winner with his head held high. Instead he stooped to the same level as the supposed "Rats and Filth" and the real loser is the great game of Rugby League.

NRL Alpha Rankings 18

2011-07-13T09:40:00.000+12:00

This weeks player of the round is Kieran Foran

It’s nearly crunch time in the big show and with eight rounds to go, the Broncos at fifth spot are six points clear of the Warriors which is a significant break and, barring any miracle runs, will see the top five teams stay in the top five slots. The only potential slide may come from the Cowboys which will liven things up considerably, but given the performance against Newcastle last night, all bets are off.

Of the bottom sides, you can forget about the Titans, Raiders, Roosters, Rabbits, and Eels.

The Tigers, Panthers, Doggies, and Sharks will fight out the bottom two spots of the eight, and it should make for an interesting tussle given some of the up and down form of some of the contenders.

Here are the rankings after 18 rounds.

1. Melbourne.

The Cheats keep doing what they do; coming up with new ways to cheat.

Now paying $4.50 to win the lot, and I can’t help but think we might see a shoot out between themselves and the side who belted them 40-0 in 2008.

2. Manly.

Now paying $5 is the side I tipped when they were at $8, the best balanced of the sides with the best point man running around at the moment. On the day this is a side capable of racking up fast points, and they can be very pretty to watch. Still the only undefeated team at home in the NRL.

3. Dragons.

The TAB’s favourite at $3.25, but I'm not convinced. I know I said the same last year but I'm not sure defense and Jamie Soward alone are enough to win the NRL, and they always look so tired. It’s a great system but I don't see it being enough this season.

4. Cowboys.

The surprise package of 2011 but they won’t win the premiership, and the TAB will give you a whopping $14 if they do.

Great performance last night to beat the Knights on the road but keep an eye on them, they may well slide out of contention without JT.

5. Broncos.

Another surprise package and even this Broncos hater has a grudging admiration for what this young side has achieved under first year coach Anthony Griffin. Yeah I said it.

The Baby Broncos look strong, fit, and fast, often swamping more experienced outfits with their enthusiasm and hustle. Paying $9 they might go deep into the playoffs but I can’t see them winning.

6. Warriors.

$11 is a fair price. We lack in too many areas to be considered a legitimate threat, and aside from a "Coach Carter" miracle from departing coach Cleary, you have a better chance of speeding down the north western motorway with a head full of acid, throwing your money out the window and having it fly in the other window and back into your pocket.

7. Knights.

Hard to get a read on the Knights but they have the potential to be special next year under the tutelage of Grandmaster you know who. I’m tipping them to make the eight with Mullen back in the fold, but at $30 there’s more chance of me running the New York marathon than them winning the title.

8. Panthers.

I made the mistake of thinking the Panthers had turned the corner but that was some other outfit in pretty pink jerseys. No chance of winning the NRL and will struggle to hold eighth spot.

9.Tigers.

If you’re looking for an option for a powerball multi the Tigers might be your go. Paying $25 and more than capable of making a long streak towards the playoffs, they are starting to get some key personnel back from injury too. I like them to make the eight but winning the lot will require some miracle.

10. Sharks.

The Sharks are on a roll and if they make the eight, they'll celebrate like they've won the lot. Losers.

11. Bulldogs.

So much talent and promise for what? The Doggies started with a hiss and a roar only to poofter out to a puppy dog whimper. The Warriors will belt them this week and the calls for Kevin Moore’s head will become deafening. The Dogs’ problem is lack of quality halves.

12. Parramatta.

The Eels look good at times, but like the Dogs they lack real quality in the halves which has seen Maitua and now Hayne shifted to the six jumper in recent weeks. Hard to see them making the eight, and at $60 you might as well buy a lotto ticket.

13. Rabbits.

Useless. With that roster and those results, the Rabbits should be euthanised. If I was a fan or Johnny Lang I'd be asking someone to chuck me the toaster while I enjoy a nice relaxing soak in the bath.

14. Roosters.

A Brian Smith special. I can't wait to read the book.

15. Raiders.

Where did it go wrong for the Raiders? After last year’s big finish to storm the playoffs they have turned to poo flavoured cheesecake. Was it all the signing of Orford and the loss of Campese? I'm not sure, but it’s a shame given some of the talent.

16. Titans.

It’s a testament to the quality of the NRL really when you look at the wooden spoon side and see the sort of talent at John Cartwright's disposal. He has some real trouble on his hands though, and it might be time for some hard decisions and big changes. No chance of making the eight.

All Blacks named for Tri-Nations

2011-07-11T19:34:00.001+12:00

BACKS: Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Ma'a Nonu, Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu
FORWARDS: Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Liam Messam, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Corey Flynn, Andrew Hore
Injury replacements: Wyatt Crockett, Cory Jane, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Ben Smith.

Pretty predictable team selection from the three wise men/three blind mice. Obviously they are banking on the talent that has been so good for them since the Cardiff train wreck of ‘07, along with some of the form horses of the recently concluded Super 15 season to get them through the Tri Nations and World Cup.

Who shouldn't be there?... I would have taken Mathewson ahead of Andy Ellis. Mathewson is quicker with a much better pass and although Ellis has a better kicking game (except for when he sets up tries for the Reds), his option taking and slowness is a handicap. So for the make up and balance of the squad I like a guy who offers some variety, especially given that it’s the third string option after Cowan and Weepu. Mathewson is a guy you can bring on with twenty to go to really have a run at tiring forward packs, Ellis is just a clone of the first stringer.

Richard Kahui is only an over reach for the baked beans at the breakfast buffet away from his next injury, and I'd like to see Robbie Fruean get a crack at the big time. The kid is a monster and just the weapon to use in the World Cup where he can be unleashed on the poofter mid fields of the Northern Hemisphere; we all know how much the little Frogs and pasty Poms enjoy having to grapple with a Polynesian behemoth. Kahui is good but for how much longer? Fruean will be a player of the future, give him a crack now.

Corey Flynn is another in the Kahui "Chalk bones" club but aside from the Super 15 final he has had a very good season. I would have picked Hikawera Elliot instead, his aggression, work rate, and leg drive makes him a great ball running option. Wind him right up and let him go, he’s a weapon head.

Who's unlucky?... Obviously the players I have mentioned, but you also have to feel for Arran Cruden who has been overlooked in favour of a guy who has played next to no rugby for quite sometime and looks a little brittle.

Any openside flankers can feel aggrieved; the likes of the Braids and Matt Todd don't stand a chance when the selectors policy is to use a back up 6 in the 7 role. I seriously worry about this situation given McCaw's injury problems of late, and I don't think the three wise men/three blind mice have done a good enough job of blooding a genuine back up to the skipper in their time at the helm.

So it should make for an interesting series. The Saffas will be their usual "Munt up the front" selves, but its the Convicts who I will be watching closely; they now appear to have depth in positions as well as quality in important ones, and they may have the fastest wingers going around in Ioane and Rod Davies in particular, who looks faster than anyone we have with change left over.

The great Jack Gibson once said of Andrew Ettinghausen that he was so fast he could turn off the light and be in bed before it got dark. Rod Davies looks to have the same sort of wheels and it worries me, because just as the good Dr Gonzo once said and just as we witnessed in the Super 15 final on Saturday night: Speed kills.

Newsflash:Without a breakfast buffet attended Richard Kahui is injured

NRL Round 18 Tips

2011-07-08T14:35:00.001+12:00

Warriors v Titans

Take the home team -9.5; they have been ordinary but the return of Luck, Rapira, and Locke makes them a different proposition for the 4-11 Titans who are 2-5 on the road.

Opt134 Warriors -9.5 at $1.87

Eels v Tigers

A typical post-Origin punter’s nightmare. Who's in and who's out?

I'd normally steer well clear of this one but have a look at the draw &/or half/fulltime at $8.25. I figure it could be a messy one between two teams who struggle without a settled halves pairing.

Opt152 Draw Half &/Or 80 mins $8.25

Sharks v Raiders

Another tough one. The Sharks are on a three match winning streak while the Raiders looked very good against an ordinary Roosters outfit. Dugan isn't named but it doesn't mean he won’t play and I hope you’re getting the recurring theme here.

Opt176 Blake Ferguson to score a try $2. He's in fine form and will look to be a nuisance when he goes back to the Shire.

Bulldogs v Storm

Don't touch this one.

Chooks v Panthers

The Roosters are rubbish and will be desperately happy to have the best halfback in the world back for this clash against Penrith.

(Ricky Stuart you clown). I won't be backing them though and it’s hard to see anything but a belting for the Rorters.

Opt 235 Penrith $1.65

Manly v Rabbits

This one will be like the Jews against the Germans at Brooky. Look out for the guy Ricky Stuart would prefer to have over Jamie Soward or Mitchell Pearce on any day of the week.

Opt257 Manly -9.5 at $1.87

Knights v Cowboys

The Knights have been clocking some dollars this season and I suggest you jump on them to smack the sookless Cowboys. From memory Mullen and Gidley put on a masterclass in Townsville earlier in the season and Uate is a special.

Expect the Cows to slide down the table.

Opt278 Knights -13.5 at $2.05

Good luck and enjoy the footy.

Origin Wrap

2011-07-07T18:32:00.000+12:00

Normal service resumed at Brisbane’s Suncorp stadium last night; the shit talk, the mind games, and the renewed interest in NSW "Origin culture". However, this came to nothing as Ricky Stuart’s Blues withered under a relentless, perfect Maroon wave that battered the Blues into submission after 33 minutes and 24 unanswered points.

It was, of course, Darren Lockyer’s big finale and the overkill was special; the montage of the hero as a kid back home in Roma, wearing his Wally Lewis jumper and playing backyard footy with his brothers; the pre-match interview with the lovely and equally gravelly voiced Mrs Lockyer; and then the cringe of the year clincher - as the players walked to their kick-off positions, the cameras moved in on Lockyer and a voiceover started of Darren telling us about his pre-match preparation, and what goes through his mind before kickoff. Overkill in overdrive. Origin style.

The start was set at -6.5 $2.05 and the $1.50 head to head money never once came into jeopardy, not even when NSW staged a mini comeback with Minichiello and Uate scoring tries late in the first half. But rather than resurgence by Blues, the tries were foot off the pedal stuff from the dominant Canetoads, and it kept everyone tuned in to watch the second half. The second stanza saw the home team comfortably coast home, at times threatening to blow the score out to embarrassing margins only to see the visitors score consolation tries to keep it respectable.

Big occasions are when big match players come to the fore, and the usual suspects turned up for Locky’s farewell. Sam Thaiday was my man of the match, his bustling runs on the right edge were a constant threat; he scored one try in the first half, hitting a short ball at speed to burst through the line, and laid on a beauty for Billy Slater in the second half to all but kill NSW’s chances.

Other than Thaiday, Civoneceva, and Matt Scott, it’s hard to isolate a stand out performer in a side that performed so well as a unit and that methodically picked the opposition to pieces, but Thurston, Smith and Locky orchestrated things well.

For NSW it’s another year of “what if’s” and “maybe’s”. I'm not convinced that Stuart picked the right team, and his assertion that they are on the right track is a little misguided in my opinion.

His halves combination went missing for most of the series bar a glittering 60 minutes in game two, and players like Gasnier, Minichiello, and Creagh are yesterday’s men; tried often enough and still coming up empty. Glen Stewart was very good but wasn't used ‘til injury deemed it necessary, and his brother was the obvious choice at fullback. Uate was outstanding, but it’s tough for a winger to win you an entire Origin series.

And what of Jamal Idris? The perfect impact player left out all together.

To me, it was an outstanding occasion. I banked on Stuart’s return to the scene of one sport’s ugliest displays of petulance and bad sportsmanship to turn sour for him, and when Gallen whined about referee’s decisions in the post-match, I poured a tall scotch and I could have sworn I heard the Kiwis singing “Slice of Heaven”.

I know it’s wrong to take pleasure from the misfortune of others, but for Ricky Stuart, I'm willing to make an exception.

The Wackiest Names in Sport

2011-07-05T20:50:00.001+12:00

France is smelly

Friday night footy last week was, for all intents and purposes, a fairly tame affair between the ordinary Eels and the very impressive baby Bronco's. Aside from poking fun at Carl Webb's ridiculous girth and the Eels stuttering ineptitude, the best belly laugh came when Bronco's winger Dane Gagai streaked down the field like he was being chased away from a Catholic girls’ school.

"Gay Guy sprinting away, over halfway, he's over 30, they won't catch him" bellowed Ray Warren.

And like an immature school boy I giggled, then I got to thinking, “What are the wackiest names in sport?”

So of course it’s time for another silly list...

1. Dane Gagai. (Pronounced I suspect erroneously by Rabbits as “Gay Guy”).

The obvious number one. Who doesn't chuckle when the commentator is screaming about a Gay Guy streaking down the pitch? A talented kid no doubt, but that name will keep giving.

2. Rusty Kuntz. (No that’s right, you’re pronouncing it correctly).

A major league outfielder from 79 to 85 for the White Sox, Twins, and Tigers, but who remembers any of that given Mr and Mrs Kuntz named him Russel?

3. Stefan Kuntz. German Football.

Sticking to the theme and it’s probably fortunate Herr Kuntz didn't ply his trade at Upton park or Old Trafford, I can only imagine the fun British football fans would've had with that one.

4. Albert Pujols. MLB.

Doesn't look bad does it? Yeah well the Cardinals slugger is Albert Poo Hole and boy can he hit a long ball.

5. Chubby Cox. NBA.

Didn't have quite the effect on the NBA that his name did, but it’s not one you'd be ashamed of is it?

6. Dick Butkus. NFL.

One of the great linebackers and a Chicago Bears legend but take him out of the States and he's just another stupid name.

7. Irina Slutskaya. Figure Skating.

I'm not going to post a picture because it’s not much chop but with a name like that I'm sure all the boys were lining up for a "skate".

8. Misty Hyman. Swimming.

Misty Dawn Marie Hyman. All sorts of interesting imagery going on there, it’s almost like a messy first date crossed with a beautiful spring morning.

9. Frances Meli. NRL.

Former Warriors and Kiwi's winger "France is smelly, so is Italy"

10. Dick Trickle. Nascar.

Hardly complimentary is it? You'd think Mr and Mrs Trickle would have thought long and hard before making the mistake of naming their son after a symptom of a sexually transmitted disease.

Scapegoat

2011-07-05T14:02:00.000+12:00

Everyone looks for a scapegoat. When the ship sinks or a city’s footy dreams go up in flames like the Hindenberg, a sacrificial Lam is quickly identified and torn apart by the seething masses.

Sometimes they're right, most times they're wrong, and it’s an ugly occurrence either way. For rugby fans in New Zealand it’s a particularly nasty ritual that has popped up like clockwork, calendar work perhaps, given that it’s a four year cycle that sees us navel gazing and eating our own with a gross appetite akin to that of a bulimic Murray Deaker. It’s tasteless, nasty, and small minded.

So with all that in mind I'm going to rant on Pat Lam like the embittered, long suffering Blues fan that I am. I think I'm entitled to given my reasonably loyal support of the guy in the past (I used to defend him when guest poster BensonKnowsBest used to talk about riots and civil unrest). I thought that given time Pat might work out a few of the basic principles of winning a Super rugby title, but after Saturday’s loss to the Reds I'm almost certain I was wrong. Allow me to explain…

Point 1: Pick the team most likely to do the job.

Rene Ranger is X factor and even at 80% should start before Lachie Munro. I shook my head in disbelief when the team was announced, and when Munro threw an intercept for Rod Davis to run 80 metres and score, I felt like shaking a baby.

Ranger joined the match and he was a handful, even Ewen McKenzie told Hamish McKay on RadioLive the next day that he was surprised Ranger didn't start. It was an awful decision and the only person who wasn't surprised by that was Lam, who for some silly reason seemed to think a team needs three goalkickers and a third string 10 on the wing.

I think there’s an argument for Stephen Brett to have been made a back up player earlier in the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he misses half the number of tackles he makes, and in the dictionary under Flake there are two pictures; one is a chocolate bar and the other is Brett.

Other notable failures in this department are Lam’s substitutions, he seems to sub players at times for no other reason than to sub them for two minutes before or after the halftime break which seems pointless.

His love affair with Taniela Moa was also puzzling.

Point 2: Identify the opposition’s weaknesses and formulate a strategy to exploit them.

I'm convinced that the Reds would have been expecting an old school forward onslaught from the Blues, it’s obvious right?... Use the superior forward pack to pick and go in the channels around the rucks and mauls, and to maintain possession and impetus. When the opposition tire and the forwards are sucked into breakdowns, you can use the ball out wide to attack.

Some accurate kicking for territory, contesting breakdowns, and set pieces like a place in the final depended on it would have helped too. It’s that simple, but what did we get instead?... Pat played to the Red’s strengths and got punished for doing so.

Lateral ball movement with Mathewson shifting the ball to Brett who then offloaded to a static tight forward who was behind the gain line, this process was repeated until the turnover was forced. How many tries came from turnovers?

It’s bad enough that Lam sent his team into the game with a naive game plan but what made things worse is that they never changed things up; there either was no plan B or the players weren’t up to implementing it, which says a lot given Pat’s fondness for “Player Power” (does this sound familiar?)

I am one hundred percent sure where the Crusaders will attack the Reds in the final and it will most likely win them the game, it’s the same place where the Blues should have attacked them.

The bottom line….

It was Pat’s fault plain and simple, and the rugby scribes have let him off lightly. He knows he has the talent and resources to win the competition. Hell, he even said last year that 2011 would be the Blues year

Unfortunately the biggest catchment area in the country, the largest talent pool seems content with just not being shit, so we can expect more of the same from happy Pat and his happy not to be shit Blues in coming years.

Still bitter.

Warriors named to face the Titans

2011-07-05T13:42:00.001+12:00

Huge for the club to have Sam Rapira back on deck

This weeks team to face the Titans.
1 KEVIN LOCKE
Glad he's back, a natural fullback who runs the support lines around the ruck so well. Badly missed last game where Feleti Mateo needed a support runner on about a half a dozen breaks.
Also safer under the high ball and attacks his kick return work.
2 BILL TUPOU
Not out of place in first grade but needs to up his work rate. When he first made first grade he had a quality scoot and we could use it on early tackles after a kick.
3 LEWIS BROWN
Round hole square peg, but as I have said previously I back him to play anywhere and I know he'll give the full 100%
4 SHAUN BERRIGAN
Worries me defensively on the edge but he made some inroads with ball in hand last start. One or two performances from NRL oblivion I'd say. Moon or Metcalf can't be far from getting a crack.
5 MANU VATUVEI
I hate to think whats going on in Manu's head right now, his form and tentativeness was a good gauge for the whole Cleary situation. Way out of touch and looking distracted. A good hit out against a rubbish team like the Titans might be just what the doctor ordered.
6 JAMES MALONEY
A shoe in every week.
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
A good outfit for the kid to assert himself against, with Sam Rapira and Micheal Luck back we might see some shiny stuff just like in the game against the Cowboys.
Needs to control the game and be able to order his pack about.
8 RUSSELL PACKER
Got through a mountain of defensive work against the Storm. Needs to do more metre eating and will be better with the return of Luck.
9 AARON HEREMAIA
Alehana Mara
10 JACOB LILLYMAN
A willing toiler with some handling issues.
11 FELETI MATEO
Our best forward for weeks, we are very lucky he isn't playing Origin.
12 SIMON MANNERING (c)
I'd be tempted to start Taylor here and put the skipper back in the centres in Berrigans place.
13 MICHEAL LUCK
The tackling machine returns. Funny how you don't appreciate what you have til its gone
Interchange:
14 LANCE HOHAIA
Looks like he already boarded the plane. Needs a kick in the arse.
15 SAM RAPIRA
The unsung hero, a massive loss whenever hes out of the side. Rapira will make a huge difference with his bustling runs.
16 BEN MATULINO
Potentially our best forward, he's like a horse carrying defenders and puts some good hurt in his tackles. One of our biggest problems of late has been the tameness of our forwards and I think Matulino can lead us back into the sort of stinging bash on defence displayed by our under 20s side
17 ELIJAH TAYLOR
A shame he misses out.
20 STEVE RAPIRA
Needs time in the Vulcans, has shown nothing in two games.

Cleary's off to Penriff

2011-06-29T01:57:00.000+12:00

Well it looks to be a done deal folks, the Warriors will call a press conference today and tell us what we all knew already. Ivan Cleary is heading back home to coach the Penriff Panthers.
What we cant tell you at this point in time is who will be replacing him but I am hoping its Tony Iro, a guy who has done the hard yards in the system and done good things with the Toyota cup side.
I will be sad to see Cleary leave and he has had his critics during his tenure at the Warriors, personally I think Cleary provided our club with a steady hand when the shit had hit the fan and has done an admirable job.

Super15 2011 Signed Blues Away Jersey

2011-06-28T17:05:00.001+12:00

Checkout this Auction on Trademe
The Blues are into the semi-finals for the 1st time in 4 years. On their way to winning the 2011 SUPER15 title.
2011 is the last time some of these GREATS will play in the BLUES jersey together again.

Check out the team at
http://www.theblues.co.nz

Their 'Away" jersey was autographed by the Blues squad and is up FOR SALE!
Proceeds are going to the WestOtago community who are fundraising for a new medical centre in Tapanui.

http://www.woht.org

Brand new, size 'M'.

I encourage you to go and have a look and bid on the auction, its an awesome piece of memorabilia and its for a great cause.

NRL Alpha Rankings

2011-06-28T14:45:00.000+12:00

1. St George
Yeah I know, I have been talking up Manly and sleeping on the Dragons but that changes today. Any team that can defend 36 straight tackles against a gunslinger like Kieran Foran deserves to sit at the top of the tree.
You just get the feeling that even injury won't halt the Dragons who have an interesting configuration which is finely tuned by Bennett and makes players like Dean Young and Jason Nightingale play like match winners.
2. Cheats
Still coming up with new and innovative ways to cheat.
3.Manly
They'll bounce back but it was a convincing loss last night. I still think they are a well balanced attacking unit and that Hasler has them very fit but they still need to iron out a few kinks. As an aside wasn't the game within a game that is "Matai watching" great last night?
4. Broncos
Ambushed by the Bunnys in a swimming pool but they'll come back and to be quite honest they have already exceeded my expectations of them this season.
5. Cowboys
Is JT one hundred percent and if he isnt is this it for the Cows? I'd suggest an Origin/mid season slump is due for the Cowboys who do have some young forwards and do traditionally fare badly on the road but I think we've seen enough from them to suggest they'll be playing come the business end of the season.
6. Newcastle
Gutsy against the Chooks and you have to feel sympathy for Rick Stone who will be replaced by the Master next year. The Knights with their full compliment will be quite a team and they shape up as quite a spoiler in coming rounds.
Uate reminds me of Noa Nadruku, a freaky rugby league player who gets people excited about the game, does things no one else can and does it all with a big smile on his face.
7. Bulldogs
The up and down Doggies definitely aren't the "Dogs of War" of years past but with Ennis making a nuisance of himself and upsetting opposition players (Robbie Farah) you get the feeling they could emerge as a darkhorse with their big forwards and....... Hang on scrap that, they still don't have the halves.
8. Tigers
No chance without Marshall and even when he's there they struggle upfront. Robbie Farah has emerged as a whinger without compare and it just doesn't look good at all for the Tigers
9.Warriors
Ivan Cleary is on Catch 22 street with his fingers in a dyke.
10. Penrith
Didn't see the game but I heard they were very pink and Luke Lewis played well.
11. Rabbitohs
Lucked it in Perth and should really be doing much better than they are. Must nearly be time to pity the fans.
12. Eels
They don't look far away from doing something the Eels but Kearney must be pulling his hair out. No halves and some of the recruitment has been laughable, Carl Webb anybody??
Will be better next year with Sandow but until then suck it up Eels fans.
13. Raiders
Wheres Matt Orford?? Poor Raiders fans, after promising so much they get a season like that
14. Sharks
Ordinary for the most part but another potential spoiler, Gallen is there they are a chance of knocking anyone over on the day.
15. Chooks
Junk, another Brian Smith project comes of age.
16. Titans
One hand firmly on the spoon and they don't look like letting go