All of NRL is taking the weekend off as we prepare for the annual Trans Tasman Test between Australia and New Zealand and the maligned NSW City vs Country fixture. We will also have a Tonga vs Samoa Test match at Penrith's Centerbet Stadium and a Under 20s State of Origin fixture. As well as the NRL taking the week off, Holden Cup will have the weekend off too. If you are looking for a game of Footy this weekend you won't be spoiled for choice. If you live in Sydney its either a Test match in the greater west or going down to a traditional ground for some park footy, better known as the NSW Cup. The rep weekend was introduced to limit burnout on our best players but they won't have the weekend off; they will be playing in a one off test match on Friday night in Canberra. So it doesn't help player burnout, so why are there only 4 matches this weekend. A weekend off for footy is bad for fans and the clubs. But what other games could we add to make the weekend mean more?
2. Make it an International Weekend
If we really want this weekend to be taken seriously it should be a worldwide weekend of test matches. The addition of Tonga vs Samoa is a good one. But what about the other test nations? Imagine this lineup for the weekend. Friday night Australia vs New Zealand. Saturday a double header with PNG vs Fiji and Tonga vs Samoa. Then on Sunday we can still have the City Country fixture. How about we get the north involved too; England, France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy could all have Test matches if Super League is willing to follow the NRL and take the weekend off too. We already know we have the best, closet domestic game, but we aren't taken seriously as an International sport and the lack of regular fixtures doesn't help. Treat international football as well as we treat the NRL and it can only improve. Hopefully the Independent Commission will be able to build of this years World Cup and give International Football the exposure it deserves.
3. Does City vs Country have any value anymore?
Robbie Farah, Mitchell Pearce, John Sutton, Aaron Woods, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Reynolds and Jarrod Mullen are just some of the names that have pulled out of this weekends game. However there is great doubt that these players wouldn't play this weekend if there club teams were playing. Most of the NSW team is already decided, so this isn't the big selection trial that is used to be. However there are some great young players that could well be the future of the Blues making their first representative appearance this weekend. Wests Tigers duo James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen, the Bulldogs' Josh Jackson and the Roosters Boyd Cordyner are just some of the players being blooded. But Queensland doesn't have a selection trial, so do we need one? Well if you ask the players they love to play in this game, and for now that's good enough for me.
If we really want this weekend to be taken seriously it should be a worldwide weekend of test matches. The addition of Tonga vs Samoa is a good one. But what about the other test nations? Imagine this lineup for the weekend. Friday night Australia vs New Zealand. Saturday a double header with PNG vs Fiji and Tonga vs Samoa. Then on Sunday we can still have the City Country fixture. How about we get the north involved too; England, France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy could all have Test matches if Super League is willing to follow the NRL and take the weekend off too. We already know we have the best, closet domestic game, but we aren't taken seriously as an International sport and the lack of regular fixtures doesn't help. Treat international football as well as we treat the NRL and it can only improve. Hopefully the Independent Commission will be able to build of this years World Cup and give International Football the exposure it deserves.
3. Does City vs Country have any value anymore?
Robbie Farah, Mitchell Pearce, John Sutton, Aaron Woods, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Reynolds and Jarrod Mullen are just some of the names that have pulled out of this weekends game. However there is great doubt that these players wouldn't play this weekend if there club teams were playing. Most of the NSW team is already decided, so this isn't the big selection trial that is used to be. However there are some great young players that could well be the future of the Blues making their first representative appearance this weekend. Wests Tigers duo James Tedesco and Curtis Sironen, the Bulldogs' Josh Jackson and the Roosters Boyd Cordyner are just some of the players being blooded. But Queensland doesn't have a selection trial, so do we need one? Well if you ask the players they love to play in this game, and for now that's good enough for me.
4. The Great Divide
We are just 6 rounds in to the 2013 NRL season but we are already seeing a divide between the best and the rest. The NRL is widely regarded as the closet competition in Australian sport thanks to the salary cap. This season though, the divide has become evident much faster than normal. Melbourne, Manly, South Sydney, Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Brisbane all look like contenders early on. St George Illawarra, Canberra, Cronulla, North Queensland, Parramatta, Canterbury, Wests, Penrith and New Zealand look nothing of the sort. But this is the NRL mind you, it lasts 26 rounds, not 6 and I would not be surprised if any bottom team starts to come good and make a real impact on the competition. If so, it would be another example of the infamous salary cap at work.
We are just 6 rounds in to the 2013 NRL season but we are already seeing a divide between the best and the rest. The NRL is widely regarded as the closet competition in Australian sport thanks to the salary cap. This season though, the divide has become evident much faster than normal. Melbourne, Manly, South Sydney, Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Brisbane all look like contenders early on. St George Illawarra, Canberra, Cronulla, North Queensland, Parramatta, Canterbury, Wests, Penrith and New Zealand look nothing of the sort. But this is the NRL mind you, it lasts 26 rounds, not 6 and I would not be surprised if any bottom team starts to come good and make a real impact on the competition. If so, it would be another example of the infamous salary cap at work.
5. Coaches under pressure
Another coached sacked for the season and we are only 6 weeks in to the NRL. However the both coaches are from the Super League. Australian Ian Millward has been sacked in just his 2nd year in charge of the Castleford Tigers. His replacement is still to be decided upon. In March Salford Reds Coach Phil Veivers was sacked after just one win from the first 5 games of the season. Last week he was replaced with former Bradford, Wigan, Crusaders and Great Britain coach Brian Noble. Noble's successful history as one of England's best modern coaches, international experience and with multiple Super League titles on his resume makes him a perfect fit for a struggling club like Salford. This is not a job for a rookie coach. Back home in the NRL, Matthew Elliot, of the New Zealand Warriors seems to be under pressure with their poor start. Australian Test Coach Tim Sheens has been mentioned as a possible replacement.
6. New South Wales Number 6
6. New South Wales Number 6
All of the key positions for the Blues seem to be settled. Its incumbents that will keep their positions such as Fullback Brett Stewart, Halfback Mitchell Pearce and Hooker Robbie Farah. However with NSW five eighth Todd Carney currently injured it seems to be the only position up for grabs. However contenders Jarrod Mullen, Josh Reynolds and John Sutton have all pulled out of the City Country clash. It seems to be a two horse race between Todd Carney and Roosters pivot James Maloney. Maloney is in great form and has a club partnership with Mitchell Pearce. However if Todd Carney can get back on the field and put some form on the board he will most likely be selected for Game 1.
-William Le Messurier-
