6,232 fans showed up to watch a traditional Sydney club play a ladder topping interstater. WHAT A JOKE. The Central Coast public, again showed their apathy to the game we call rugby league. We are given all the excuse as to why the Central Coast do not embrace single NRL games. They are hurting from the Northern Eagles Experience. They want their own team.

Based on current performance, they do not deserve their own team. PURE AND SIMPLE. If there was a strong desire to watch NRL, every game played at Blue Tounge would be packed out. Simply, they're not.

Curly tells me of the period 1988-93 when he was based in Townsville. Every time the region had a chance at an NRL quality game the crowds flocked. The Townsville Sports Reserve was the venue and temp seating was the key. During that time, he saw games from the old Amco cup, pre-season games, games against touring teams and even the odd test match. Pre-season games against Cronulla and Wests, Amco Cup Games featuring the Broncos, Gene Miles/Greg Dowling testimonial game, Great Britain Touring Game and a test Match Australia v Papua New Guinea. Each time a Sell-out. Each time a great experience supported by a huge part of the population.

What does the Central Coast do? A Piss-poor crowd of 6000. And they want someone to invest in their NRL licence. NO HOPE IN HELL.They say the Central Coast is a hotbed of rugby league. Well, isn't it time they started to show this. Taking your bat and ball and going home, because of the Northern Eagle is a case of playing the victim and having a major sulk. Time to grow  team.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now that Curlys infatuation with all things NFL has finished, it's time again in re-focus back on the NRL and the footy that we love.

I am interested in the game this season, and find the two-referee system the greates unknown that we face. They stuff up games with just one, how can they go with two.

I will, over the next fortnight analyse all teams for season 2009. I will be looking at their playing lists, coaching lists and front office administration.

Some trials have started and the season is sitting their in anticipation. Lets hope its another blinder of a season.

2009..Should be fine...(sucks i know)

The chumps that run Rugby League have hyped it all season. The Centenary Season finished off with the World Cup. So what have we seen so far? Delayed telecasts from the official broadcasters. Hype and interest waining. I am sitting here at Curly's drinking his Bacchus watching  a streaming broadcast on the net. The picture is fuzzy and if I didn't need glasses before the game, I will after the game.

Again, the official broadcasters have let the League down and importantly let us fans down. How much longer do we put up with this crapp???????

Melbourne Storm have somehow capitulated to the most hated team in the NRL. Standing beside my new mate, Lloyd from Manly (who used to be a North Sydney Supporter), cheering on Manly, I wondered how this came to be. Me, Snowy "Bloody" Fraser cheering on Manly. The team I detest.

The Melbourne Storm became the team I detested more. Not because of the player mind you. OK Some of the players. But players like Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, Matt Geyer, Adam Blair and Dallas Johnson didn't deserve my hatred. BUT STEVE TURNER does, and Cameron Smith needs to find a new way about himself for me to even considering liking him again. They showed his face on the big screen at the game, with about 15 minutes left and he was universally BOOED. Take that for what it is Cam. No-one likes you remonstrating with the ref every couple of minutes. Just play the game MATE.

But the biggest thing about this Storm hatred is the antics of Bellyache and Wally. The coach and the CEO. Me against the world doesn't work mate. Allow your team to shine and talk the positives, and forget the crap. Waldren must go. To have a team of players like this one you have, and have everyone hate them is a sign that you two have pulled the wrong reigns.

Wally and Bellyache, this 40-0 thumping was your doing. Simple. REALLY.

Fans and opposition players now appear to be united in that Melbourne have become the most hated team in the NRL. The use of wrestling holds and grapples on the field, deny teams and players the capacity for playing the ball quickly and even worse potential injury. The over the top way they support each other as a team, their over-reliance on kicks to score, their boring style of dummy half running and overall the arrogance of their fans.

If, as many suggest, Manly and Melbourne play off in the final I will be supporting Manly for the first time ever.

It was a proud club. One with an enviable record of winning eleven straight premierships. It had a record of playing tough and of player commitment to the big red V. Last night it died.

In it's place we saw a team that executed poorly, was very predictable in attack and missing in defence. We saw that team cop some *** decisions from the match official, and lie down instead of using that to galvanise spirit. We saw a coach looking at bringing Jamie Soward back, only to be talked out of it players Cooper and Gasnier. While Ben Rogers played OK, he was nervous and that showed. During his stint at playmaker Coops and Gaz had seen more ball, and that was again evident last night. But Rogers was never going to win the game for the Dragons. The Dragons are a victim of a club that has coached and managed on consensus, and it just doesn't work.

So where to now. We are losing some players. Some will be sorely missed, like Josh Morris. Others will leave with our blessings like Jason Ryles. They talk about the great career of Gasnier. Yes it was a great INDIVIDUAL career with Origin and Test Highlights, never a TEAM highlight with a Premiership. Did Gaz lift the Dragons and make them a better team?

Next year, the wily old master Wayne Bennett comes to the club. He knows of the tradition, he knows of the pride, he knows the passion. He cannot do it alone. One man can not change the culture of this club, in which ALMOST GOT THERE has become the determinant of success.

Every year we state the obvious. We hate the McIntyre system. Teams that make the finals deserve the knowledge that they are in a knockout situation. Under the current NRL finals system, they don't.

All sides from 3 down, have the chance to be knocked out. IF every team ranked 5-8 win, that means the sides that finished 3 and 4, are knocked out. Is that fair compensation for finishing in the top 4. If the top 4 sides win, 7 and 8 are eliminated but teams 5 and 6 are given a second chance. Is this fair? NO

They should play 1v4 and 2v3 to see which team gets the week off. Teams 5v8 and 6v7 should play in a pure knockout series to see who plays the loser of the top ranked teams. For once the AFL have got it right. We don't.

Can I tell ya! I am sick to death of negative press about our great game. You really must ask, when will players learn?? I cannot comprehend the latest "alledged" behaviour from Greg Bird. If what has been reported is true, God forbid.

This end behaviour that continues to be exhibited by our players, tends to be a case of getting chance, after chance and then a big explosion leading to 100% negative press. This last result would seem to be along similar lines.

When will the NRL players learn.????

At times during the Cowboys-Titans game, you wondered why Luke O'Donnell hadn't laid off the angry pills. It seemed that every decision young Bernard Sutton made, was challenged by Luke. And not just challenged, VERY Angrily challenged.

Fast forward to the Raiders-Knights game and we saw a contrast. AllanTongue elevated into hooker and captain, gave the ref an ongoing battle all game. On other hand, we saw Danny Buderus, usually the master of this game, be very humble in his approaches and callouts from the ref. He knew his side was being ill-disciplined, and conducted himself accordingly, with a genuine resolve to fix the issue.

Dissent is an ugly thing, and the way some players are carrying on, surely proves that the respect for the referee is gone. I believe it started going when the players were called by name and not number. They need to go back to that simple philosphy and they need to do it now. And sin-bin the first sign of angry dissent. Period. That will stop this crap and serve as a strong warning to all players. It must stop, NOW.

The St George Illawarra Dragons are rapidly running out of chances in the run home to the finals. There last three games have been characterised by playing for just 40 minutes, with the other 40 minutes being of a very poor quality.

The Dragons have been the greatest under achievers in the NRL recent history, and 2008 looks like it will be the same again. When they knuckle down, do the hard stuff before swinging the ball they compete with the best. When they don't they are wooden spoon material.

Which Dragons side will stand up over the remaining rounds.