March 2009 - Posts

• In Need of Protection?

  Coaches have brought it upon themselves says the spolit kitten that runs the referees. Robert Finch has declared that the current over zealous policing of the rules has been brought about by the coaches demanding it, and now that it is in, it is here to say because it is the best thing for the game. All contact with kickers was penalised on the weekend, yet Finch is saying that some contact is legitimate. Luke Bailey backed into Brett Kimmorly and was pinged. Darren Lockyer was knocked over in a great tackle, just as he was kicking the ball. Pinged. Kickers need protection. CRAP. You can see what will happen with this. Kicker gets the ball and has all the time in the world to kick it as the opposing team sits and watches for fear of penalty. We saw a situation in the Knights - Rabbitohs game where Kurt Gidley went to kick, the defence held off and he elected to dummy and run. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE IN OUR GAME. A kicker expects pressure. He expects to have someone trying to put him off the kick. Could you imagine the next change to the game. The attacking team must give advance notice to the ref that they are looking to kick. " Sir, we are kicking next tackle". The Ref calls " Kick Defence" The defensive team reacts by staying on the 10 metre line covering the kick zones. This is not rugby league and most fans want no part of it. Who else needs protection in our game. Wingers do. Apart from being wingers, they catch the footy (need protection) dummy half run (need protection) and like to score in the corners as close to the sideline as possible (Need protection) What about halfbacks? Front rowers? There is a level of risk in every activity that takes place on the footy field. We cannot protect them all, and we shouldn't look to protect any. Penalise the late hits. Penalise the high shots. Penalise the shots that take the legs out of the kickers. But don't ruin our game. Posted Mar 29 2009, 11:23 AM by snowy with no comments

• Snowys Take on the Dragons

  I have now seen the opening rounds of the Premiership and been a keen analyst of the Dragons as they forge into the Premiership. While it is obvious that new coach Wayne Bennett has added steel into the outfit and reduced their errors, they as a team still seem to be misfiring. Here is my take on it. Captain While I admire Ben Hornby as a player, I don't believe he is making a good captain. His passion causes errors at time, and when a team needs a cool head, Hornby probably won't be. He declined a kick at goal today from a penalty with the score at 6all. Not sure of the reasons why, but he did.  I think Ben Creagh would make a great captain, with Dean Young as his deputy. Forwards The forwards have been the bright spot so far. Michael Weyman has been a legend this early in the season and Jarrod Saffy isn't far behind. Creagh has been inspirational as usual, while Jeremy Smith has been solid without being spectacular. Defensively they have been strong. Neville Costigan is gradually finding some form for his new club, Matt Prior has been a revelation as well. Attacking options in the forwards have been characterised by forward gains from Weyman, Saffy and Creigh. They have been too one out and lack creativity around the rucks. Playmakers Dean Young, Jamie Soward, Matty Head and Ben Hornby must take a lot of the blame for the lack of cohesion that is existing in the team at the moment. Their attacking options seem too slow and too easily read from the opposition. Many of their passes are being taken behind the runners and this also is slowing down the play. The kicking game is inconsistent. A lot of work needs to be done to solve these issues. Many would believe that Hornby is better suited to fullback and I would agree. The only drama is we then need a half-back as both Soward and Head are inconsistent and been slow to take hold of this position. Outer Backs The best outside back has been Wendell Sailor. Which is scary. Jason Nightingale was missed in todays game against the Sharks but Brett Morris certainly took his opportunity. Darius Boyd is running sideways too much and doesn't seem suited to the fullback role. Beau Scott has been solid as has Matt Cooper. We need more attacking spark and that is our greatest opportunity. The Dragons are going OK, winning game without getting the full package right. The potential of this side is huge and expectations from the fans match this. They need to start gelling better, creating some slickness in attack and maintaining their defensive mettle if they are to be in the mix at the end of the season. Posted Mar 29 2009, 01:56 AM by snowy with no comments

• The Snowy Impression: Round 1

  Round 1 of 2009 has finished and we now have a chance to look at what impressed Snowy "Bloody" Fraser. Friday Night really impressed me as four of the best sides in the comp, flexed their muscle and kick-started the season in great style with single point victories to the Broncos and Storm over the Cowboys and the Dragons. The Bulldogs really impressed the Snow on Monday, pantsing the Manly Warringah Sea Eagle on Saturday Night. Jamal Idris was THE MAN of the round in my eyes and just 18, MAN does he have a future. The way he brushed aside the Manly players in his two try effort was simply sensational...Our game just keeps on producing. The Manly-Bulldogs game also had a little stink involved. Always good to get the blood flowing...Get a stink on. Well Done Boys. Finally the Snowy Impression likes the look of the two referee system. The game has more penalties, YES, but is just so much quicker. The ruck seems quicker and the playmakers are really given space to use. Based on the first weekend, 2009 could be a defining year for Rugby League. Yes, the refs still made errors, but we had none of the Video ref bullshit that has mucked up our great games last year. That is the Snowy Impression from week 1. Nothing to grizzle about really, except maybe Des Hasler. I do have a question about Fox. What is this with all this standing up stuff. Monday Night Football the commentators are filmed standing up, and just watching NRL Tactics, they are standing up. Stolen from the NFL? But I don't know why. Until next week, I'm Snowy "Bloody" Fraser and when it is all said and done, It is usually more said than done. Posted Mar 17 2009, 01:50 AM by snowy with no comments

• $6 Beers : Isn’t there a Global Economic Crisis?

  Curly took me to the footy at Suncorp, even though my beloved Dragons were playing in Melbourne. We paid $6 for a 425ml PLASTIC cup of XXXX Gold. What the hell is happening here. That is just a ridiculous price to pay. The NRL (David Gallop) are advising that they hope fans see a day at the footy as an economical way to spend their entertainment dollar. Dave NOT AT $6 a beer mate. Lucky we didn't eat... whats this deal here. People might come to the footy, but lets hope the caterers go bust, as people should not be paying these exorbitant prices. My other thing from Suncorp is that I now believe Allan Langer us metamorphosing into Ivan Henjak. Curly's wife wanted to know why bald Ivan was still allowed to run as a trainer, and it was with complete surprise that the Bronco members around us, worked out that it was Allan Langer. It's happening folks, Allan into Ivan. Posted Mar 13 2009, 04:44 AM by snowy with no comments

• Manly Front Office Dramas Impact Latest Football Dramas.

  Reports in today's media, indicate that the front office dramas at Manly have been the basis of the dramas impacting the club and Brett Stewart. Long time officials who have acted as the players minders in the recent past, were nowhere to be seen as they chose early nights over fraternising with the warring parties. As such the players who had been primed at the club launch, chose a night on the turps and no-one was responsible for their welfare. I am still amazed that players make those decisions.....but they did. Calls for alcohol bans to be a part of the NRL player contract is not the answer. No-one would want to play our amazing game, where having a few quiet drinks with your team-mates is such a strong part of our culture. Clubs need to be united and have a role to play in "minding the players". However the biggest wake-up call must come from the players. That's it really. Posted Mar 08 2009, 01:10 AM by snowy with no comments