Pre-Season, every season, we have a drama of some magnitude envelop the game of rugby league. Whether it was Coffs Harbour and the Bulldogs, Brett Stewart and even Kings Cross and the shots fired at Jarryd Hayne, there is always some drama that take the headlines away from what can happen on the field.

 This season promised different, until the drug squad in Newcastle had other ideas. They arrested Chris Houston for drug offences. Danny Wicks also felt the brunt of the law last December, but honestly, that had faded from the news and our memories.

So here we go, the Annual Rugby League shot in the foot, just two weeks out from the season start.Will we ever learn?

What do we make of the early pre-season form of the teams this year. In a nutshell, I don't think much can be taken at all.

Parramatta have struggled to win a trial, yet teams like the Warriors, Roosters and others have bounded out during the trials with hints of promise for the season ahead. I am not saying that the Warriors and Roosters are down for poor seasons, but in all likelihood they will improve, exactly how much will be the question.

From a recruitment and quality of team base, my fears are for the Dragons and Broncos who really havn't added to their squad and in real terms are minus in terms of squads they ran out last year. The Broncos look hell-bent on blooding new forwards, while the Dragons are expected to conjure up some greater attack to go with the discipline in defence they found last season.

The big improvers in our eyes are expected to be the Panthers, Tigers and the Rabbitohs. The Rabbitohs need some of the steel-like discipine to match thier enthusiasm, while the Tigers seem to have added to their roster well. However, I expect Matt Elliot to have a good season with his Panthers as he finally seems to have some quality in his squad, which appears to have a real Elliot touch to it.

So don't take anything from the trials team, as from March 12, is when it all counts.

 We say it every year, But we will again say it. Pre Season is the best time of the year for all supporters. It is that time of the year where we look ahead with anticipation. There are no losers at the moment, just winners waiting to happen. We can read all the previews, but know in our heart that 2010 just could be the year. We look at the betting markets and make our visions to what we will do with our winnings at season end. We analyse our off season signings, our coming and goings, and can't wait for our best 17 to take the field.

Just weeks away and we are all winners.

 The Indigenous All-Stars won the inaugural NRL All-Stars game 16-12, with two Jonathon Thurston Conversions the difference. The game was played with an intensity that surprised many, but from those within the Indigenous camp didn't.

Inspired by deed by the like of Loinel Morgan (first ever Indigenous Kangaroo) and stories of tribal warfare, and spurred on by a large majority of the crowd, the Indigenous team played with greater passion and commitment and deserved their win.

The first game has been played and the merits of the game will now be debated. We saw two major injuries with Darren Lockyer and Kurt Gidley likely to miss opening rounds of the season proper. Travis Waddell was knocked out and will need some rehabilitation. Many other likely injuries will be glossed over in coming weeks, as the match was intense enough to create.

Doubts must be cast also on the future of the game, due to the high level of dropouts that occurred preceding it. While clubs publicly praised the concept, it would appear that behind the scenes there may have been some dissent. This is likely to increase with the injuries that have occurred. Additionally, the Indigenous camp banished Justin Hodges due to his non-commitment to the game, which flies in the face of his public comments as well as the attitude of the vast majority of the squad.

The addition of the trial rule, the double try, was a joke. This MUST never be seen on a rugby league field again!!!!

Personally, I feel this game should not be played as our opening game. Much was spoken about reconciliation and the like on the night, I believe this game has a greater capacity to divide. It didn't last night. We saw a good natured crowd, with the passion and cheering purely one-sided. You might have thought the NRL All-Stars should have won and that is who you were cheering for, but the crowd didn't form an emotional attachment with the NRL. Emotion was ONLY evident in the cheering of the Indigenous team. And personally, I don't think most people really cared who won, they came for the entertainment and potentially the novelty, there were others for who it meant everything. This is where the potential divide and ugliness came in.

 In contradiction, this game actually needs that emotion to survive. Without it, it becomes a meaningless clash. So we fuel the viability of this game through emotions based on race. Doesn't sound like reconciliation to me????? I love Preston Campbell, but I don't think his original idea was to play the NRL All-Stars. Maybe more in line with taking on other Pacific Indigenous tribes.

I will refer to an earlier article from THEFOOTY.com and again state, that this game should be played as the week lead-in to the Grand Final after giving the grand final qualifiers a fortnight break before the big game. This is an ideal time, when season commitments for most players have finished.

I am confident also that players like Ben Jones, are 100% proud of whatever tribal culture they possess. Not sure if his selection does anything for the credibility of the game, however.

Its a good thing we have Willie Mason, otherwise the news around the NRL would be pretty quiet. David Gallop, the NRL CEO came out yesterday and told Willie to keep his mouth shut. While that is probably some good advice, as Willie certainly doesn't seem to be learning any lessons from any mistakes that he has made. It is much easier to blame everyone else for your woes and continue on as is.

I still Mason to have a huge season with the Cowboys and Cowboys fans must be secretly happy with the potential of the forward pack they will be producing.

One thing, however, of concern for the NRL is the lack of personalities within our game. Mr Personality, himself, David Gallop also must recognise this. Losing Wendell Sailor will be huge in this aspect, and the comp needs colourful players urgently.

The NQ Cowboys fans have been reported as being very much divided over Willie mason joining the team.

Mason is a goose, yes, but in terms of misbehaviour he is a choir boy.

Tipping him for a BIG year.

 Yesterday was certainly a news day for the NRL with many exciting announcements made.

Firstly, Big Willie Mason has signed with the Cowboys. This is good news for the game and was tipped exclusively by THEFOOTY.com and never wavered from for the last month. Willie will start afresh in NQ and whichever way he goes should have a top season. Strange how he polarises the fans, with the thought that 50% hope he has a great season and the other 50% believe he will show up to be a dog.

Lote Tuquiri is back in league, and following the exploits of Wendell, is tipped to have a great season. One of the reasons why Wendell was welcomed back so warmly was his larger than life personality, and his outward enthusiasms for the game and the team. Lote has neither of these characteristics and I personally believe his return does nothing for the game.

 The NRL AllStars game has been rocked by injury with four Aussie Allstars out, including Englishmen Gareth Ellis. The Indigenous All Stars are also rocked by injury. I am not sure of the replacement program yet, but will advise once announced.

 I just sat and watched the NFL Pro Bowl game, and the new scheduling for the game interested me. Previously played in Hawai, the week after the Super Bowl, it is now played in Florida the week before the Super Bowl and fills the empty weekend prior to the Bowl. The teams are decided by voting from the fans, players and coaches. Of course the Super Bowl team representatives sit out the game, but with both the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl being played in Florida this season, the Pro Bowl has been the ideal lead in.

Which led me to thinking. After a hards finals series, would it not be advantageous for both teams to have a fortnight off.  The first week off they prepare seriously in their home ports for the game and get their more serious preparation done. Then in the week leading to the game, both teams set up shop in Grand Final town annd set the buzz happening.

Now imagine if you will, the NRL Allstars game being held on the spare weekend before the Grand Final. Both of the these teams (minus the GF teams players selected) converge on Grand Final town and dominate the media, leaving the two GF teams in peace in their home port to seriously prepare for the GF and even get over some of the niggling issues.

Just call me an ideas man, but this could work brilliantly and would work better than the February Time slot.

Willie Mason has been rumoured to be in the sights of the North Queensland Cowboys and Manly.

Maybe a change to Townsville is just what the doctor ordered for the human wrecking ball.

Many would agree that a charging Willie Mason is a great sight! It's about time we see the deeds back on the footy field and not in the gossip pages!

The Cowboys fan base are split 50-50 on the Mason issue, but personally I reckon they will be getting a player that will have so much to prove it isn't funny. The Cowboy Players seem to want him, the coach is keen but is the board prepared to take the risk?

I hope he does go to the Cowboys and he has an amazing season.

Well I guess I have heard it all now. Israel Folou has expressed an interest in Union.

Why, oh why, do league players feel the need to entertain thoughts on joining Rugby Union. The game is crap, ruined by referees and certainly not the sporting nirvana that it is painted up to be.

Additionally, one would have to guess whether Folou would actually succeed in Union. I don't see too many high kicks to the corner, which appears to be Folous specialty. Union has fast agile backs, and I don't see this in Folou.

Just another leaguie attempting to raise his money, I guess

A well-meaning friend delivered the Johny Larkin book, The Cockroach tells all, to me for Christmas. I must say it did start with some promise with his photo and disclaimer on Russell Crowe. After that it went downhill and fast.

It had the usual predictable humour, based around booze, out-dated anecdotes, self-gloating bullshit and the gratuitous use of a fat middle aged man in various photos of distaste. Predictable use of the nickname in an attempt at humour to sell beer and the odd g-string shot.

I am pretty sure that the vast majority of league fans will see some humour in this, but by mid-book will be bored shirtless, much like the Reg Reagan book of a few years back.

The book isn't even well written as a parody, with contradictory pieces, snippets and cannot even keep its own historical context. Heaven forbid, if anyone actually took this book as a serious piece of journalism.

Now some may describe this rant as a bit hypocritical seeing that we churn out the ole Myth and Legend, Snowy "Bloody" Fraser on our completely independent footy.com site. We don't trot Snowy out as anything Snowy isn't. A real reserve grade bush legend , with some outdated views but a real grip on the new world of Rugby League and the expectations of the fans and games. Snowy lives in our world, everyone knows a Snowy. No-one would ever admit to knowing a Johny Larkin.

Not sure how the NRL stops this sort of crap from going to print. The American NFL has such strict controls on how their game is depicted, that some movies have been forced to create their own league for their stories. A case in point is "On Any Given Sunday" in which a fictitious league was created as the NFL did not approve the movie script.

It's time we moved the humour of our game to the next level, Lets get rid of the "fart" joke toilet humour and embrace some originality.

As a father of many kids around the nation, I have become prone to advising them of the need to get on with people and then in turn this helps you get on with the world. Don't be the person that people don't want to play, work or be with. Be the one they want to be with.

Now if only Willie Mason had been given that advice, OR had chosen to use it if it had been given to him. Be the big personality does him no favours at the moment. Unwanted at his club, and indeed inside the NRL, Willie has limited options. He has apparently recieved big money offers off-shore, but whether this is true or an attempt to keep his name in the media is arguable. By appearing to be a wanted commodity, also helps drive the type of money, Willie has become used to.

Desperate to remain in the NRL, the NRL doesn't appear desperate to keep him. Good luck Willie. What will he be remembered for????

News : www.thefooty.com

The Rugby League community has embraced the concept of the All-Stars game to be held in February, between the Aboriginal Dream Team and the NRL All-Stars. Most league fans are excited by the prospect of the game, but the voting for the game is the testing point in the game.

While the concepts of having fans pick the players and having just one player from each club is admirable, it will limit the game as a spectacle and as an avenue to further increase revenue.

The public are notoriously bad at voting for the right people. Witness any reality TV show, when popularity usually wins as opposed to actual talent or worthiness. Additionally, how many pub fights have come about due to footy team selections and the arguments from incensed patrons.

Clubs would certainly not relish having multiple players involved in a Public Relations game, and I am sure that the limitation of players from clubs was one of the deciding factors behind allowing the game to go ahead. However it leads to the question of which player from which club. Why should Parramatta chosse between Nathan Hindmarsh, Fuifui Moimoi and Jarryd Hayne as their single representitive. Why should Brisbane be "allowed" to have captain Darren Lockyer and another player in the side.

Here are the Top 10 Players voted. John Sutton is unavailable due to injury

Here is the remainder of the squad.

The following 64-players have been shortlisted for the NRL All Stars selection:

 When Jonathon Thurston came out and spoke about being a Wallaby, many in the league game openly have said, " Who Cares" League fans are genuinely tired of seeing their superstars, talking up Yawnion and many see it as a way to bump up their salary. We are sick of the lack of loyalty shown by the league superstars to the game that has given them everything they have

So CYA JT. You will be forgotten

Bad boy of league, Greg Bird has accepted a lifeline on the Gold Coast to take on life in the NRL from 2010. The redemption that he seeks, was the primary motivator behind the move, as he knocked back a much more substantial offer from Catalans In France, to sign with the Titans for a reported $100,000 for the season.

Bird need to reshape his battered image. Apart from the charges that he successfully apealled, he has long been regarded as one of the Sharks Bruise Brothers with grub Paul Gallon. For Bird to sign with squeaky clean, Gold Coast, could well be a master stroke for his career and his personal life.

Whatever happens, it is time for Bird to take ultimate responsibility for his issues and drive better standards, both on and off the field.