Warren Took His Collection Duties Very Seriously: However one views Peter V’Landys, one cannot question how he has positioned the NRL as arguably the biggest player in Australian sport, a serious political force.
It has been an astonishing leap for the game, that was not only the poor cousin of the AFL but often wielded less influence than niche, minor, irrelevant sports like rugby union.
Under V’Landys, the game is now at the forefront of national security with an official announcement expected soon that the Australian Government will be spending $600m to support an 18th NRL franchise based in Papua New Guinea.
The government sees Papua New Guinea and Rugby League as critical to this country’s national security.
That simply would not have happened without V’Landys, who turned the NRL into a serious political player that could be trusted with such responsibility.
This is massive for Papua New Guinea, for Australia and for the NRL.
The next three years need to be about getting this right and using that money to fund a competitive team, build an appropriate stadium and set up so they can attract the best players.
Take The Advice Sunshine, I’d Hate To See You Spend The Next Five Years On Wheels: The decision by the NRL not to allow the 18th man to play the week before an Origin appearance is utterly disgraceful.
The 18th man is virtually an honourary position, not the automatic replacement for an injured player in camp.
The player is highly unlikely to get into the Origin arena, yet they cannot play for their club this week, meaning Matt Burton and Felise Kaufusi – two players from the 10 teams without a bye – are held out of club football.
It is an utter disgrace, Origin selection already has too great of an impact and to rule out the 18th man at the whim of two coaches is unfair and needs to be changed.
Take the advice NRL – and take it quick.
You’re A Real Rootin Tootin Cowboy: Todd Payten really fancies himself to be a complete alpha dog.
He likes to swing that pipe around and assert his authority and make himself feel like a big man, a real rootin’ tootin’ cowboy.
That is the only explanation for the Cowboys missing six players due to Origin and him still starting the club’s most highly paid and highly decorated player in Jason Taumalolo on the bench.
Taumalolo is one of the club’s most decorated players yet has been treated like a Covid denier by Payten.
It is one of the worst bits of coaching the game has seen in the last five years and it should cost Payten his job.
You Buggered The Melbourne Job From The Start: Jason Ryles was an absolute fool to pass on the Dragons job last year to go back and assist at the Storm.
Ryles clearly believed that going back to Melbourne would see Craig Bellamy walk away in a year.
It was one of the most naive and arrogant decisions an assistant coach has ever made, Bellamy is never leaving!
At least not with the club in a half competitive state, he is more likely to be there in 2030 than not.
Ryles has also failed to heed the lesson that assistant coaches ignore time after time: the heat does not last forever.
Once upon a time, David Fairleigh and Jim Dymock were the hottest assistants, Fairleigh held out for the Central Coast job. Dymock almost had the Canterbury job.
Neither got a full time gig.
Ryles does not get an option to pass again, he needs to be all in Parramatta or accept a life as an assistant coach.
You’re Not a Protected Species, You’re Not A Koala: NRL officiating is in such a horrific state because of how they are run and it is Graham Annesley where much of the garbage we see comes from.
He rocks up on Monday, has zero accountability, makes nonsensical claims and statements, blindly defends the officials and does nothing but fuel agitation at officials.
His arguments around hip drops made last Monday was just astounding.
Blaming broadcasters, commentators et al sums up how little grip on reality he has, he is protected and it is appalling.
Go On Billy, Have A Good Look: One of the biggest concerns about Michael Maguire’s approach to team selection and Origin tactics is that there is no subtlety.
Maguire is trying to take a nuclear bomb to a game of chess.
He has all but ended James Tedesco’s Origin career, disenfranchised the likes of Api Koroisau and gone all-in on hard workers.
If it doesn’t work, he has already killed a lot of his options.
Jesus Mate, Can Dolly Parton Float?: The NRL and the game has gone way too soft on code defectors, way too soft.
From the moment Sonny Bill Williams embarrassed the game with his treasonous antics, those who leave league to play union should have been banned for life.
The fact the game does not do that – we in fact reward code traitors like Joseph Suaalii with Origin jerseys – is shameful.
We all know Joseph Suaalii will be back in the NRL, they always come back.
It is more certain that Tuesday following Monday or Graham Annesley defending a bad decision, the NRL should stop this and stop it now.
Most Of These Blokes Had No Go In Them, No Dash: The backs with the most missed tackles per game in 2024:
1. Aaron Schoupp – 5pg
2. Ezra Mam – 4.8pg
3. Tom Weaver – 4.7pg
4. Drew Hutchison – 4.6pg
5. Ethan Sanders – 4.5pg
6. Josiah Karapani – 4.5pg
7. Brian Kelly – 4.1pg
8. Brent Naden – 4pg
9. Tony Francis – 4pg
10. Anthony Milford – 4pg
Jesus Christ I’m Hungry: Jacob Preston has to be one of the most likeable players in Rugby League.
His tackle on Friday night to prevent a certain Greg Marzhew try was not only arguably the tackle of the year but it summed up who he is as a player.
Preston is all heart, commitment and effort, the latest in the lineage of Steve Reardon and Simon Gillies.
You’re Not A Strong Person, You’re A Weak Person: Australian rugby continues its death spiral, the Melbourne Rebels apparently died during the week, though few knew they still existed.
The quicker the sport is confined to the North Shore of Sydney, the better off we all will be.
Rugby union is weak, it is not a threat to the NRL, but the NRL needs to be ruthless in finishing off a sport that has wished league nothing but harm for 130 years.
I’m Telling You, Pull Your F**** Head In: Grant Atkins and Ashley Klein were just making shit up when they sent Toby Sexton to the sin bin for a professional foul,there will be 20 people a game sin binned
2024 Field Goal Update – 17: Three field goals were kicked in a stunning golden point game between the Dolphins and the Raiders with Jordan Rapana slotting two – the first two in a career that started back in 2008.
Fun Fact #1: Penrith have the best record during the Origin period the last three years with a 14-3 record, followed by South Sydney and Canberra with 13-5 records.
Fun Fact #2: Wests Tigers have the worst Origin record with a 2-15 record followed by Gold Coast with 4-13.
Fun Fact #3: Cronulla and Manly have been the best teams to bet during Origin with 11-6 cover records.
Willie M Team of the Week: This week’s team of fools, fakes and frauds:
1.David Armstrong (New) 2.Sione Finau (Dra) 3.Kayal Iro (Cro) 4.Jake Averillo (Dol) 5.Nick Cotric (Can) 6.Jack Cole (Pen) 7.Jackson Hastings (New)
8.Jacob Saifiti (New) 9.Mitch Kenny (Pen) 10.Moses Leota (Pen) 11.Briton Nikora (Cro) 12.Teig Wilton (Cro) 13.Adam Elliott (New)
14.Siosifa Talakai (Cro) 15.Simi Sasagi (Can) 16.Phoenix Crossland (New) 17.Preston Riki (Pen)
Coach: Adam O’Brien (New)
Betting Market of the Week: Odds that Reed Mahoney could entice the following into physical violence:
$1.02: Donald Trump $1.35: Cameron Ciraldo $1.40: The Pope $1.75: The Dalai Lama
Rumour Mill: Maika Sivo is expected to be released to join North Queensland, potentially this season.
Euan Aitken and Jeremy Marshall-King are expected to follow Wayne Bennett to South Sydney next year.
Canterbury are believed to be incredibly interested in Newcastle fullback David Armstrong, who was set to join Leigh before setting the NRL on fire.
The Coaching Crosshairs: Anthony Seibold has some ego.
Already on his third coaching gig just seven seasons after his debut, he last week walked out on contract extension discussions with Manly.
This week he and his management have been pushing the narrative that Seibold is in the mix for the Eels job.
As bad as Parramatta are, they are surely not dumb enough to try and poach a coach with as poor a record as Seibold’s from another club.
Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: The Eels may have won under Trent Barrett for the first time but his decision to leave Blaize Talagi on the bench and give him zero minutes during the throes of a contract negotiation for the young talent is utterly idiotic.
Watch It: It is the week of Origin I and time to relive one of the great Origin moments. We go back to 1988 when Lang Park was showered with beer cans when an incensed crowd lost the plot when Wally Lewis was sin binned. The absolute highlight of this though is the commentary where, after an all-in brawl, the caller said “he can only pack a scrum, that’s all he can do” and then seemed to encourage the uprising. Watch it here.