Richard Lewis to leave RFL Chairman position
Richard Lewis will stand down as Chairman of the Rugby Football League to take up the vacant Chief Executive post at the All English Lawn Club at the end of this month, ending a 10-year association with The Greatest Game.
In May 2002, Lewis took over from Sir Rodney Walker and oversaw a governance restructure that brought the different factors of the British game in line after a disastrous 2000 World Cup competition that left the RFL in £1.9m debt.
The Rugby League’s fortunes have drastically improved since the early millennia and in 2012 the governing body has already distributed £30m with much of that going to Super League and Championship members.
Richard Lewis is an understated individual. Born in Epsom and having played for his country in Tennis’ Davies Cup competition, many supporters of our game never really formed a relationship with the man tasked with improving the fortunes of Rugby League.
I don’t think anyone can argue that the sport is in a much better state now but I feel Richard Lewis will be remember by supporters for the wrong reasons. I must admit that I have been heavily critical of him but as time has gone and more information has been made available, my opinions have no so much changed, but have been tweaked.
Richard Lewis yearned for a competitive top flight division, a live salary cap and a playoff format befitting Europe’s premier League competition. The RFL introduced a licencing system that was based on improving standards through all clubs with a view of developing home grown players that would then aid the English international scene. I think he was very close to achieving his goal.
One of the biggest mistakes that Richard Lewis and the RFL made was to include Celtic Crusaders in the inaugural 14-team licenced Super League in 2007. Celtic was just 3 years old at the time and after 6 years they folded. Rugby League in Britain does not have the money to fast track new clubs into the top league, nor were there enough British players of the required standard to justify the decision. Ultimately, and after an excellent 2010 season when they made the playoffs, Celtic disintegrated within 12 months and the RFL must take responsibility for that.
The problem is that the British game has been stuck in a rut for a long time. There is an unhealthy obsession with trying to catch up on the Aussies and Kiwis that people in the game lost sight of what was best for us. We have become desperate.
Richard Lewis deserves a good sending off. Rugby League isn’t in a fantastic state right now, but it is much better than when he took over in 2002. The problem is that times move on and I think he’s taken it as far as he can.
Meninga calls for more British talent to hit the NRL
In March Queensland State of Origin Coach Mal Meninga urged more top British players test themselves in our sports’ top domestic competition, having been impressed with the start made by ex-St Helens forward James Graham at Canterbury, and the impact both South Sydney’s Sam Burgess and Wests’ Gareth Ellis have had in the NRL in the last few years.
This is an issue that Super League clubs need to take a serious look at.
I reckon that a good 50% of Super League players could play in the NRL and have some modicum of success. The NRL has a large group of good players that are Super League-standard and the only reason that NRL clubs don’t pick up that type of player from our league is because they have enough of them at home to choose from as it is. What would be the point?
What the NRL wants is our top players to go over and I am in favour of all our top players trying their hand at the Australian game because it will benefit the international side no end. The problem I foresee is trying to convince the likes of Wigan and Leeds to allow their British star players to leave.
If we ever have a top quality international player on our books, I would have no gripes in letting him leave for the NRL. No question.
Meninga pointed to Wigan’s Sam Tomkins and Leeds’ Ryan Hall as two examples of the type of player he’d like to see play down under and I can see why. They scored a combined 51 tries in 2011 and have notched 18 together already this season at the time of writing.
I understand that domestic success is important to those that run Super League clubs but it is a heightened sense of self-worth from those clubs that is holding back our international side. As I write, England coach Steve McNamara is completing a ‘fact finding’ mission in Australia. Unfortunately for him, the NRL’s top two British players were injured as he flew out but McNamara has revealed that over 100 NRL players can be considered for our national team.
That is 100 players who are likely to have never considered playing for the Poms, but the chance of earning a bit of extra cash at the end of the season is worth considering.
The international eligibility rules are that complex –bordering absurd- but understand this, Steve McNamara will do everything in his power to keep his job, and that includes selling out his fellow countrymen. He did it by selecting New Zealand Maori Rangi Chase, and he will do it again; I bet if Warrington-born Bob Fulton fancied a game he’d get a spot on the bench!
Embracing RL in London
As my interests and knowledge of our game have grown, it has got to the point where I’ve found myself constantly scrutinising the views of people who I speak to on a wide range of different aspects. On the whole discussions are quite depressing in that the person I talk to seldom has anything positive to say.
One subject that I am a big believer in but often find opposition to the contrary is rugby league in London. The question is always: is Rugby League in London working?
When I talk to people the usual arguments always come to the surface pretty quickly. My favourite one was based on the amount of Australians that used to play for the Broncos before they were re-named the Harlequins. Some would tell me that they couldn’t just throw a load of average Australians together and make it work. Now, we see the club building up a core youth development programme with such guile, patience and co-ordination that it is actually taking time but bearing fruit. But I guess this isn’t good enough for some people either.
Others include: they’ve been trying it for 35 years, they are spending too much money on it, too many names changed/locations, their crowds are poor, they don’t have a large away following etc.
These are very narrow-minded views and ones held by friends and people I know, but that I’m trying to make them change. The main problem I have getting my point across is trying to make people see that Rugby League in London does not just centre on London Broncos. However, as the Broncos are our capital’s flagship club, I think a lot of people forget this. I think people neglect the fact that thousands of young people now play regular rugby league in London at different age groups and the amateur scene is healthy at varying talent levels.
But starting with the Broncos, they have, according to their website, 8 local players in their first team under the age of 25. Alphabetically, Ben Bolger is from Hackney, German-born Lamont Bryan was raised in Croyden, Omari Caro is from Hammersmith, Tony Clubb hails from Gravesend, Kieran Dixon is local although his place of birth is unknown, Albanian-born Olsi Krasniqi was raised in Feltham, Jamie O’Callaghan from Hammersmith and Rob Thomas was born in Ashford, Kent.
Some may say that is ‘only eight’ players, but it isn’t, it is eight players. This means that at the minute eight players from the local area are full time professionals and one of those scored 4 tries on his England international debut. On top of this, there are 19 players in the under 20s and 32 in the under 18s.
London Skolars are a club that have been allowed to grow at their own pace and recruit their own local players. They actively seek and advertise for new players who wish to train with their ‘A’ team. This is a fantastic way to increase participation. People I speak to look at Skolars’ often high-losing margins and wonder why they bother. I could argue that there are many high-scoring games in Super League, and drubbings happen quite often, but what I want to do in these instances is use my argument positively and show that despite the large score line, they are actually playing the sport in large numbers in London – and that is what we must shed light on. We have large participation numbers that keep growing.
London Skolars ‘A’ play in the National Conference Southern Premier. People need only look at the below websites to see the levels of participation at amateur level here:
Eastern Rhinos RLFC http://www.easternrl.co.uk
Hammersmith Hill Hoists RLFC http://www.hillshoistsrlfc.com
London Skolars RLFC http://www.skolarsrl.com
St Albans Centurions http://www.sacenturions.co.uk
South London Storm http://www.stormrl.com
West London Sharks http://www.westlondonsharks.co.uk
South London Storm operate with 2 open age sides and an under 18s team; Eastern Rhinos have an open age side and a team for the under 18s, 16s and 14s. St Albans have an open age side, an under 18s, 16s, 14s and 12s; Hammersmith Hill Hoists have a very dominant first team side that have won 12 games from 12 games in the Southern Premier and West London Sharks have an improving male team with a ladies side as well.
When I hear about rugby league in London, I’d like to hear about all the fabulous grassroots and community work, the young kids coming through to the Broncos and the local lads at the Skolars. I want people to focus on how well the game is growing down there, how many people are involved, whether it be participating on the pitch in an administrative role or as a fan on the sidelines standing behind that blue wire separating you from the pitch.
I hope that things like this will change people’s opinions and perceptions and realise that with grassroots, growth and focus in youth development is a massively positive aspect of the game in London. Without local Hull players in the BARLA leagues, there can be no Hull KR and Hull FC. Without local London players, there now can be no London Broncos.
They play the same sport as the rest us; they are spreading the same name and brand as the rest of us. Embrace London and help it grow.
The NRL is out of sight, the RFL are out of their minds!
The NRL is now run by the independent Australian Rugby League Commission, will soon unveil which areas they plan to expand to in the next few years and stands to make $250m-a-year thanks to a new broadcasting deal – and the RFL want a slice of the pie.
Nigel Woods will meet with David Gallop at some point to discuss the potential for an improved World Club Challenge. Gallop has said he will speak with the RFL but will air on the side of caution, which probably because whatever Woods has to say will not be of any benefit to the NRL, anyway.
The RFL wants to talk seriously about having the best of the Brits against the Best of the Aussies. I can’t help but feel a bit of de ja vu. This was tried only once before, in 1997 at the height of the Australian Super League war, when the ASL invested large sums into a few teams to compete, but who disbanded straight after the tournament had finished.
The scores were one-sided to the extent that Canberra Raiders travelled over 12,000 and beat Wigan by 40 points at Central Park. And then they sent London Broncos to Brisbane…
Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t blame the RFL at all for wanting to get in on the act, especially as Super League loses money year-on-year and the NRL will be shitting dollar signs every season.
So let’s look at this objectionably.
Super League starts at the beginning of February and runs to October. It has 27 regular season games, including the Magic Weekend and top 8 playoffs, and top flight clubs enter the Challenge Cup in round 4. There is also the mid-season Exiles game thrown in there as well.
The NRL starts at the beginning of March and runs to October. They play 30 league games, some players play in the City versus Country game and 3-game State of Origin series, there is the NRL All Stars versus the Indigenous All Stars match, an Anzac Australia versus New Zealand mid-season test and then the 8-team playoffs.
And then there is the World Club Challenge in its current format is contested.
And the RFL want more matches into this already-packed out fixture schedule. So where do you make the space?
Are the NRL willing to drop the City versus Country and Anzac test to accommodate an extended WCC? No. Will the RFL drop all teams included in the WCC group from the Challenge Cup? Doubtful. Will they scrap the Challenge Cup all together? Definitely not.
If David Woods is willing to scarify international Rugby League in the pursuit of personal domestic gain then as far as I am concerned he can go to hell. RL internationally is blossoming at a great pace, over 20 European countries not compete at varying levels of competitiveness.
In Australia, if Test football is replaced, some believe it will not return.
This is pie in the sky and I hope David Gallop tells Woods and the RFL to drop it.
New stadiums, a new team and a record to break!
I’ll put my head on the block and say that Super League will see a significant rise in attendance figures in 2012, from the 14 individual clubs and as an overall average.
This is why…
First off we see the introduction of two venues. The first, Langtree Park, located off the A58 in the town, should result in a nice crowd spike for the already well-supported St Helens club. In 2011 they spent the season a good 9 miles away as tenants at Widnes Vikings’ Stobart Stadium and averaged a respectable 7,978.
The second, the Salford City Stadium will finally give Salford Reds a platform to grow their supporter base. Despite looking nothing like the artists impression released a few years ago, it holds 12,000 and a crowd of 5,242 saw the inaugural game, so there is something to build on there. Like Langtree Park, away supporters will be eager to check out the newly-built venue, located off Junction 10 of the M60 but the onus must be on bringing in local supporters from the Salford and Manchester area.
15 miles away, Warrington Wolves are extending their Halliwell Jones Stadium by 2,000 seats to increase the capacity to around 15,000. The town of Warrington is geographically enveloped by Wigan, St Helens and local rivals Widnes and the extra seats will come in handy for local derbies and games against major playoff rivals.
I expect Widnes, through history, size of supporter base, quality of venue, and proximity to other clubs to produce larger crowds than the Crusaders did. The return of the famous old club, who had an average attendance of 3,939 in the Championship last season, will in my mind held improve on last season’s overall figure. Widnes’ first game back in the big time for 7 years brought in 8,120 and that was against Wakefield. I expect this figure to rise when the likes of Warrington and Wigan visit.
It is also worth remembering that Catalans Dragons will have a full season with their new stand open and I hope that they can crash through the 10k barrier, and that can only a good thing for the Perpignan-based club and French rugby league in general.
The Magic Weekend has been moved to Manchester and I expect a lot more people to travel to this event overall in comparison with Cardiff and Edinburgh. The event is in a city within driving distance of all but one club and supporters will be able to watch one day of games rather than staying over and spending money on accommodation. I think the attendance figure will be better for both days and culminate in a much higher attendance than Cardiff and Edinburgh. On top of this, the local authority and MediaCity, which is just across the way, will help increase advertisement and coverage, which will hopefully put bums on seats.
I think there could well be over a 1,000 increase altogether in the league average.
All in all, it's encouraging heading into a new season.
MNR - Monday Night Rugby
Sky Sports have moved the Saturday evening Super League slot to a Monday night, sparking a mixed reaction from supporters. Rugby Leaguers seem to have an almost intrinsic reaction of negativity to anything the RFL change. It happened with the licencing criteria, which is showing to be working because standards on and off the pitch are as high as they have ever been and the playoffs (minus the club call in my opinion) have provided us with scintillating entertainment at the back end of the season. I think it will happen with MNR as swell.
This change in schedule is a risk, but could prove to be calculated one that benefits the sport as a whole.
In recent years, Saturday games were aired around 5:30pm and usually bore witness to poorly-attended games and smaller television viewing figures in comparison to those shown on the Friday night. With the odd exception of course!
However, an example of the differences in attendance and TV viewing figures can be found on Friday July 11th 2011, where Wigan played Leeds in front of 16,426 at the DW Stadium and with viewing figures of 193,000; a day later, Bradford played Catalans. That attendance was a respectable 12,670 but just 61,000 people, which rivalries the Championship divisions’ viewing figures of 48,000 from the Thursday previous, watched the game on the box.
One must also consider the channel on which the above games were broadcast, with the Wigan game on Sky Sports 1, and the Bradford game on Sky Sports 3. Now compare this to two games played a month before. On SS1, St Helens hosted Wigan at Widnes’ Stobart Stadium and 231,000 watched from the comfort of their own homes. A day later, Huddersfield played Catalans and the viewing figures reaches just 104,000.
Judging by these examples, Monday Night Rugby League must be on Sky Sports one to maximise exposure and generate publicity. I understand that it isn’t convenient for the kiddies because they have to be at school the next day, or the parents who have to tuck them in at night. I’ll make no friends for saying this, but it is a small sacrifice worth paying to see if we can bring the game further into the public domain.
Give it a chance, let’s see how it goes and if the sport benefits from a great opportunity here, it will have been worth it.
Playing our 'home' game at KC isn't much of an issue
Recently it has been suggested that Rovers are considering playing their home derby match against Hull FC on Good Friday at the KC Stadium because there is likely to be too much disruption caused by the development of the new £8.2m north stand at Craven Park for a game at to safely go ahead.
Oh I see; it is because Hull FC play there regularly, right?
So what? It is not really that much of a big deal. The people of Hull have paid for the stadium to be built and the majority of Rovers fans have hardly used it.
The location change for one solitary game is well worth considering. Think about it: if our place’s capacity is to be limited to just 8,500 and all we have to do is cross the threshold into west Hull for 80 minutes a play at a stadium that holds 25,000, then why the hell not? It is just one game. Rovers fans keep bantering on about us being a better side than Hull so we shouldn’t have many problems beating them in their own Back yard again, surely?
This isn’t just a case of moving the venue and sticking everyone in a corner; there is so much that would need to be arranged for the game to take place, especially between Rovers and the Stadium Management Company (SMC).
As stated above, playing in a much larger facility would give us a greater opportunity to attract a larger crowd for the game. An increased attendance figure means more revenue. Apparently, Hull FC keep gate receipts for the first 7,500 of match day crowds, but above this figure the money is split equally with the SMC. I would imagine that our board would try and seal a deal boarding something along the lines of this.
There is a great view of the playing surface from wherever you sit at the KC Stadium. Therefore, there is no need to up-seat the Hull fans. I would be more than happy from the ‘travelling’ Hull fans to take up their normal seats in the west stand, south stand and the Neil Hudgell east stand and for us to take the 4,000 and 5,000 capacities for the north and upper west stands respectively. I say this because I love watching our lads give the Barcodes the run around from behind the sticks – just like we did on Saunday.
Losing home advantage is a nothing issue. In Australia, playing the big games at different stadiums is not uncommon; in fact, Wests Tigers player at three different locations and has not suffered because of this. We shouldn’t use this as an excuse after any defeat, particularly as Hull, like a lot of teams, have beaten us many times over the years.
One aspect of this proposed move that is being widely debated is the cost of a ticket for Hull FC fans. The Black and Whites play host to Warrington on the opening weekend of the new season and are changing visiting fans £25-per-adult per ticket. Will the SMC or Rovers be responsible for the ticket prices?
Whatever the answers to the logistical questions are, one thing is for sure: if we do play our ‘home’ game at the KC Stadium, be there.
On Report! on drugs, Gleeson and points deductions
I don’t think Hull FC could have had a worse end to 2011. 2 weeks after the Barcodes suspend new signing Martin Aspinwall for being publically drunk and disorderly the Hull Daily Mail revealed that Martin Gleeson, who had his contract terminated in September, failed a drugs test after a game back in June.
When Wigan sacked Gleeson, citing off-the-field issues, he signed for Hull and rumours immediately circulated about serious problems in the player’s personal life. Gleeson, once a top Super League and Great Britain international, played 6 games and was then stepped down because of what the club described as a stress-related illness.
Martin Gleeson never played for Hull FC again.
6 months later and he is staring down the barrel of an 18-month suspension. One of the brightest players this decade ends his career on the back of a drugs ban. This isn’t just extremely poor PR for Hull FC, but for rugby league in Britain. If this wasn’t bad enough, Ben Cooper the conditioner at the time, and ex-Chief Executive James Rule have each been given bans for their part in a plot to allegedly cover up the whole sorry mess.
A statement from UK Anti-Doping read: "James Rule and Ben Cooper were charged with conspiring with Martin Gleeson to cover up the circumstances which led to Mr Gleeson testing positive for a banned stimulant.
"Mr Gleeson was charged by UK Anti-Doping in June 2011 with committing an anti-doping rule violation after he tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine on 13 May 2011.
During the investigation it was found that Gleeson had lied to the Anti-Doping panel about purchasing the tablets, from which the banned substance was found in, from a shop in Wigan. He later admitted that he had bought them from then team mate Sean Long, who had obtained clearance from Ben Cooper for the use of the drug.
Some are now calling for big sanctions to be taken against Hull FC. What route the RFL will take with this is anyone’s guess but those calling for fines and points deductions may wish to remember that the people who are responsible have been dealt with, they are no longer involved with the game, and are not likely to ever come back.
I find it completely plausible that the incumbency (i.e. Kath Hetherington), the then coach and the prospective chairman who had yet to buy the club would have been unaware of this situation up to and including the period just after the drug test came back positive, considering the amount of covering up, and the subsequent UK Anti-Doping investigation that took place over the proceeding 6 months.
Let us leave it at that.
Hetherington seeks Aussies juniors because he knows the NRL game is up for British clubs!
Gary Hetherington is a complete moron. There, I said it. And this quote from him is why.
“The increase in the NRL’s salary cap, the current exchange rate and various changes made by the government are going to make it very, very difficult to attract top-quality, international standard overseas players,” Hetherington said.
The Yorkshire Post said he was predicting this. Way to go, predicting the obvious must add credibility to the claim now!
Only two players of “international standard” immediately come to mind when I think about the amount of Australian and New Zealand players who have come over in recent times: Thomas Leuluai of Wigan, and Greg Eastwood who played for Leeds. Why? They are both currently Kiwi international players.
So where have all the “top-quality” overseas players been hiding then, Gary?
Billy Slater and Cameron Smith have been found sheltering in Melbourne, Greg Inglis was under Russell Crowe’s desk in South Sydney and Darren Lockyer was out catching the waves in surfer’s paradise! Super League has only attracted two world class players: Jamie Lyon, who was unbelievable for St Helens, and Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns, who had a short stint with Warrington.
We had some excellent players plying their trade here in 2011, like Matt King, Michael and Joel Monaghan, George Carmont, and Danny Buderus. All good players who have been brilliant to watch this season. But are they now all “top-quality, international standard overseas players” that Gary has been alluding to? No.
Now the Leeds Rhinos’ Chief Executive plans to fly down under in 2012 and search out decent young Australian talent. Now, if you’re a promising young Enlish player, like Luke Briscoe, perhaps, and you sign for Leeds only then to find out that your club’s hierarchy are planning this, how would you react?
Gary said, “We’ll still get players like Danny Buderus, who wanted to come with his family to experience the culture and lifestyle over here. We still need and want players like that, but – for the moment at least – we will no longer be able to compete with NRL clubs for their top players.”
Gary, shut up! Super League has never been able to compete for their top players. It seems to one that Hetherington is simply after the ‘filler’ type of Aussie player, and that is likely to be what he gets if he brings back a load of average junior Aussie players with him.
In 2013 the NRL, as previously mentioned on this website, stands to make around $250m-a-year in broadcasting deals, another franchise are likely to be entered into the competition and around 80 new roster spots will be made available for the soon-to-be 19 league members. These ‘top-quality, international standard overseas players’ will then have no reason to come over, Gary. Hell, they will soon have no reason to consider Union either!
And if he thinks he can match the $55k minimum contract for rookie players, he needs his head testing. The onus for Super League clubs must be to further develop quality young players now, because the chances are that the NRL will come hunting for what top quality players we actually have – and that isn’t many. We’d be lucky to fill a 5-a-side team to be honest!
But, I understand Hetherington has to do what is right by Leeds. I know he wants his club to be successful. I also know that their development programme is one of the best in the league and that they are also planting seeds in the south west of England, an area virtually untouched by Rugby League. But what Hetherington is now saying is that the NRL are going to get rich and we won’t be able to attract players of a very high standard so we’ll have to make do with kids who just don’t make the grade down under.
Is that what you want for your future Super League?
An undesirable Super League home for undersirables without a pot to piss in!
Super League is known in Australia as the place that ageing NRL players go to die, but the place may take on a whole new persona in the not-too-distant future.
You see, in a little less than two years, the NRL will be earning £250,000,000-a-year, and that is before sponsorships and ticketing is taken into account. The league will be increased by one new member and teams’ rosters will be increased, meaning another 80 first grade spots will be made available. All of a sudden, the lure of sitting out your final days in Super League doesn’t seem all that tempting. And from Britain? Well, the Aussies and Kiwis will be returning home.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, NRL clubs will have the pick of what small amount of elite talent we actually have as well.
As the old heads of the NRL hang about in Aussie for a couple of years longer, on minimum wages currently set at $50,000-a-year, a pay packet that is certainly to increase, Super League can expect and influx of a different kind – the Undesirables.
Robert Lui is a scrum half who plays for Wests Tigers. At 21-years of age, he is building a career playing alongside the world’s best. And then he slapped his missus about. Now I’m all for giving people second chances; well, the majority of people anyway, but this isn’t the first time it has happened. In 2010, Lui was charged with 9 offences against his partner. In a game where we pride ourselves as a family sport, where 14 teams’ fans descend on one city for a weekend to showcase the British game, should Super League give a home to someone like Robert Lui?
Where do you start with Todd Carney? Australian international, New South Wales representative, Dally M winner and, finally, complete idiot! In 2006, having broken into the Canberra side, Carney finished joint- top try scorer and was subsequently picked for the Junior Kangaroos squad. But then it all went wrong as he was suspended from driving a motor vehicle for 5 years for drunk driving. In 2007, going one better than the year before, Carney led police in a high-speed pursuit before jumping out the car and running off. He was put on a 12-month good behaviour order as a result.
In 2008, Carney urinated on a bloke in a nightclub and set fire to a guy’s genitals; Canberra terminated his £400,000-a-year contract. After signing for Huddersfield in 2009, Carney was refused a British visa and signed for Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition, a far cry from the bright lights of the NRL. After his season-long ban from the NRL expired, Carney joined the Sydney Roosters and won the Dally M medal as the League’s best player. In 2010, Carney was up to his old tricks again after breaking a 2-week booze ban set by the Sydney Roosters. Thankfully for us over in Super League, the Cronulla Sharks have taken a punt on him, quite ironic when you consider the Greg Bird case a couple of years earlier. But, should Super League give a home to someone like Todd Carney?
Greg Bird is another one. In 2008 Bird was arrested and charged with glassing his girlfriend but was granted bail. As a result, Cronulla Sharks terminated his contract and he signed with the Catalans Dragons. Now I am all for innocent until proven guilty, and Bird was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment only for his missus to do a u-turn and supported the very person accused of wounding her. Around the same time, Greg Bird was found not guilty of assaulting another woman in a separate case after she was found to be the aggressor. But, should Super League give a home to someone like Greg Bird?
I can’t believe Ryan Tandy. He has been around, having stints in the National Leagues, Super League with Rovers, and has been pretty good for NRL clubs. He has won a Premiership with Melbourne Storm too. Ryan Tandy is a cheat.
During a game between Canterbury and North Queensland in August 2010, Tandy knocked on early in the match before giving away a penalty. The Cowboys opted to play on and scored from the resulting set. Tandy strongly denied the accusations of deliberately giving away possession and a penalty to allow the exotic option on the bets to be successful. Despite this, he was arrested on February 2, 2011 for providing false evidence to a law enforcement agency during the investigation of the betting scandal.
He has been fined $2,500 and could face a lifetime ban from Rugby League. If he somehow avoids this, should Super League be a home for Ryan Tandy?
And we’ve got our own dickheads too.
Greg Johnson is a complete scumbag. In February 2011, Johnson groped and then glassed a young woman in a bar. Johnson has been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and has signed the sex offenders’ register, which he will remain on for 7 years. Wakefield released him immediately. The injuries sustained by the lady he attacked will affect her for the rest of her life. When Johnson is released, Super League should not re-home Greg Johnson.
When I think of Gareth Raynor I just shake my head. How many chances do we give this guy? Gareth has been done for a racially-motivated attack of a club doorman and was imprisoned in 2010 for his part in a £120,000 fake ink scam. In September this year, Bradford Bulls, who helped resurrect the winger’s career, sacked him for what they describe as a ‘severe breach of discipline’. We need to draw a line; Super League should not re-home Gareth Raynor.
One that has really divided opinion is the return of Gareth Hock from a 2-year doping ban. In 2009, Hock was banned after testing positive for cocaine and only returned in June this year. Some have questioned what type of message it sends out when Wigan give him a 5-year deal. The obvious point one must accept is that Hock’s ban was the result of the recreation use of a banned subject. He did not cheat.
Nevertheless, Rugby League is at the forefront of anti-drugs in sport campaigns and whether it be recreational or performance-enhancing, a precedent must continue to be set in this respect. Hock will miss the start of next season after gouging Ben Harrison’s eye just before the playoffs.
Should Super League re-home Gareth Hock? Well, they have done, and he’s on a 5-year deal, too.
RIDICULOUS SELECTION POLICY IN CHASE FOR INTERNATIONAL GLORY!
I've had a bit of time to think about this whole charade and I've read many people's thoughts on various forums and in the media, and I have come to the conclusion that whereas everyone seems to be allowing players to gain international recognition through any means necessary, I am in complete disagreement with it.
I’ll just come out and say it: The RFL and international rugby league is a God damn disgrace!
The whole point of introducing the licensing system back in 2008 was so that teams can develop their own players who would break into their respective first teams and then move up to the international scene, and now they’ve selected a Kiwi! We have a whole host of very good young players coming through who are deserving of an international call up and now the possibility of these lads representing their own country has been minimised.
Rangi Chase is a New Zealand-born Maori whose lifelong ambition is to play for the Kiwis. With the likes of Benji Marshall and Shaun Johnson in front of him, his chances of realising that dream are slim. So instead of taking it on the chin and getting on with it, he approaches England coach Steve McNamara and says that he wants to play for England.
So because the lad’s connection with England comes from just three years of residency he is eligible to represent our nation. The ruling is ludicrous; just because Cockney has lived in east Hull for 15 years doesn’t mean he’s a bona fide Yorkshireman! Ask yourself: if you were Johnny Lomax or Lee Gaskell, both born in this country and on the verge of international call ups, how the hell would you feel?
I can understand the idea behind allowing the emerging a bit of leeway to try to make them more competitive, and the majority are when the likes of Wales, Scotland and Ireland play each other but when it comes to Wales versus Australia or New Zealand, it won't make an ounce of difference, such is the gulf in class between the 'top 2' and the emerging nations with the hand outs. I have no problem whatsoever with the emerging nations loading up with Aussies and Kiwis who have Polynesian heritage because we want to see these sides being as competitive as possible, but we are not an emerging nation and we do not need hand-me-downs.
And this isn’t the first time it has happened.
We’ve seen Maurie Fa'asavalu play for Great Britain, which was an utter disgrace. Recently, Wests Tigers’ lock Chris Heighington has confirmed he will play for England in the forthcoming 4nations tournament, too.
And before anyone says it, I think there are noticeably differences when comparing Jack Reed's decision to play for England and Chris Heighington's reluctant invite acceptance. Jack Reed is a young kid who has done extremely well against the best players on the planet this year. There would have been a very good chance that he would, at least, be considered for inclusion at State of Origin and representative level. We will never know for sure whether he'd have got to that level or not, but he would have at least been in with a good shout. Reed discussed the issue with his parents and his Broncos team mates and came to the decision that he wants to play for the country of his birth. All praise to him, I say.
Now, compare that with Chris Heighington, who has only considered playing for England as a last resort. He has played in the NRL for nearly decade and has simply not broken into Origin or reached international level because he isn't as good as the other players on offer to NSW and Australia. If Heighington had not watched it, he'd never have played at international rugby league and I think he has looked at it that way, realised what I've suggested here and thought: 'sod it, I'll accept the last resort'.
There is no doubt that Heighington will add something to our squad. He is a very good player and of that I have no doubt. However, when he runs out in an England shirt at the KC or Wembley, and you're sat there applauding your country, just remember, if it was up to him he'd have stuck two fingers up to us. And that goes for Rangi Chase as well.
All I want from the players on the pitch is that they want to be there and that they want to represent us as a nation whilst playing our sport. I don't care that Australia and New Zealand do it. They can inter-breed as much as they like. I don’t want to be part of the ‘if you can’t beat them join them’ brigade because we are England, and whether we are shit or not, whether we win or lose, all that really matters is that the best 17 players from our country do us proud.