More Ads in the NRL?

Darren Lockyer is a legend of the game but unfortunately he has started his career on the sidelines in the wrong way.  On the sidelines for the Eels vs Broncos game Lockyer acquitted himself well and was a nice change from the idiotic ramblings of Fittler and Johns that we are usually subjected to.  Although having Rabs and Gould is still something that needs to be addressed, maybe a rant for another day.

But when I read that Lockyer had stated:

"It's in the interest of players, spectators, coaches and everyone interested in the game to be open to making small concessions in the way our game is played.  The game's integrity would not be affected if the next TV rights deal caters for ads when there are line drop-outs or even scrums. Teams are already permitted 40 seconds to restart play with a line drop-out. That's ample time for a 30-second ad to be shown."

Maybe this is the perfect example of how out of touch the game is with the spectators.  As it is Channel 9 bombards us with ads as much as they can and continually self promotes it's programs via the commentators and as part of it's coverage gives blanket coverage for betting organisations throughout the coverage.  Almost every game there will be parts of a game missed due to an ad running over or some fool in the control box deciding to show a replay while the play continues.

To give open licence for ads to be shown at every stoppage will make for poor viewing.  Take for example a drop-out, the team has forty seconds to take the kick. If you allow for an ad to be run in this space then no replay will be shown of how the drop-out came about.  And what if a team decides it only wants to take 10 seconds, or will the Ref be forcing the team to wait until they get the all clear from the broadcaster. If a replay is shown, how much of the game will be missed?  It is the same situation with a scrum.  Any time an incident happens that causes a stoppage in play the spectators wants to see a replay of what happened.  Take away this opportunity and that only leaves half and full-time.  As it is this period is overloaded with ads and most contentious points are not discussed or shown.

Further to the point, if you allow a policy where an allotted amount of time is to be made for stoppages in play, watch how many teams start using this as a deliberate tactic to waste time.  If a station wants to show an event live then the consequence of that is less ads during game play.  The game cannot have it both ways.  Yes the game needs it's sponsors and ads are part of that, but it should never be at a cost of the game.

NRL director of football operations, Nathan McGuirk has stated:

"We have completed a statistical analysis of the current breaks in play and how they could be adapted to ensure broadcasters have the ability to show ads in-game. We are conscious of the need to not disrupt the flow of the game or spoil the experience for fans watching the game live."

It seems clear that the NRL really doesn't understand the fans that watch the game live on TV.  Any fan will tell you that an ad during play disrupts the flow and on most occasions the first tackle or kick off is missed by the time coverage returns.  If the NRL was in touch with the spectator they would be enforcing to the broadcasters that if any live play is missed due to an ad break then it comes at a penalty.  Any money from the ad that infringes should be forward to grassroots football or charity.  This is the forward thinking that the NRL should be looking at. Instead the NRL wants to give more licence to a broadcaster that already has too much control over game schedules and times.

Weekend Wrap

Another weekend over and I feel like I haven't had a chance to rest and get ready for another week of work.  Lot's happened and the weekend isn't over yet.  Liverpool play later tonight so they will get a special report as the game has missed the deadline for this post.  Hopefully their performance will warrant a lengthy analysis.

4 Nations Final

Although I have already posted about this game, my previous post was more about the farcical performance of the video ref Ian Smith.  Now I will highlight how well the Aussies accounted for an English team that still hasn't learnt that a game goes for 80 minutes and two halves.  Yet again England were blown away in the last twenty minutes and were shown to be well and truly short of being able to really test Australia.  And is was very fitting that Darren Lockyer scored a try in the final play of the game to cap off his extraordinary career.  His conversion attempt was for the career highlight reel but how good was it to see him cap off a swansong year in style.  What England need to take from this game is that relying on favourable decisions is not enough at the top level.  They need to get stronger, fitter and faster before they can seriously think beating Australia is more than a pipe dream.

The Roar can thank Theoklitos for keeping the run going.

Roar Equal Record

The Brisbane Roar came from a goal down to equal the all time record (35 games undefeated) and don't look like stopping there.  At no stage do Brisbane ever give up or look defeated and yet again they showed they play to the last minute rather than just being happy with a draw.  The scoreline makes it look like it was close but if Brisbane were able to convert their chances it would have been a lot bigger margin.  Also of note in this record run of the Roar is the fact that they have scored in every one of those games.  Positive attitude is a big thing in sport and this team is oozing of that at the moment.

Presidents Cup

I Always enjoy watching matchplay but unfortunately missed most of this tournament.  Unfortunately the International team fell too far behind in the foursomes and having to rely on winning most of the singles matches was always going to be difficult.  They did not give up though and made the US fight to the end and can hold their heads high.  It would be great to see more of this type of golf in the future, possibly on a yearly cycle would be good.

Bulls Still Undefeated

After earlier in the week defeating NSW outright to make it 4 out of 4 outright wins in the Sheffield Shield, Queensland have gone on to make it 4 out of 4 for the Ryobi one-day competition.  Queensland struggled early and according to commentators and experts on the game were at least 40 runs short of the total needed after being dismissed for 221.  No-one obviously told the Queenslanders though as they routed NSW for 171 and showed why they are the form frontrunners.  NSW were never in the hunt after losing early wickets and faltering to be 4/32 early.  It seems the Bulls are drinking the same water the Brisbane Roar are and don't like the taste of defeat.



Australia Cricket

With the current test match in a position where either team can win it I will wait until it is over to see how I analyse the game.  One thing for sure though is it is possibly the last time Ponting will be seen in a test side and it could be the last game Johnson bowls for his country for write.  Add to that a potential change behind the wickets and it will be an entirely different looking team in Brisbane.  What I do hope for though is if they make a few changes that they go with form players and players on the right side of thirty. 


That is it for this wrap although there was plenty more sport going on.  If I have missed an event on importance or one is coming up that you want my opinion on let me know.  Otherwise keep reading and let others know what your reading.

Video Ref Almost Ruins Final

In the end Australia won the 4 Nations with a scoreline that was true to their dominance. After only being in front 8-6 at half-time it was looking nervous for Australia and England were not the reason many Australian would have been nervous.

It seemed that England had picked the perfect player for their team and he wasn't even on the field.  Video referee Ian Smith gave a performance that will be talked about for a long time and should warrant investigation by Rugby League officials.   Smith did all he could to keep England in the game to such an extent that one can only say that he favoured England to such a point that he should never be allowed to officiate at this level again.

When the try to Australia was denied I was left scratching my head whilst trying not to yell abuse at the TV in fear of waking up the family in the early hours.  How he managed to pick out an offside player within ten metres is beyond belief.  Then to back that up with a penalty try to England for an incident that clearly under the rules should have been ruled as a penalty was confirmation that England were getting all the help he could give them.  At this point I was yelling but thankfully the sound proofing in the room muffled the noise.

Imagine how bad the game would have been if he was on the field with the whistle in his mouth.  It is bad enough we have to listen to the English commentators who would be the most one-sided commentators going, but to have to have a game affected to such an extent is not good for the game. 

I have never been a fan of Ian Smith and he has had a history of making poor decisions but his decision making in a game as large as the Tri-Nations Final makes you wonder how bad all the other officials are if he is the best they have.  All the talk will end up being about Lockyer's farewell and how he has gone out the champion he deserves.  Yes Lockyer deserves all the media hype and I for one will add to that hype but it should not be forgotten when an official is blatantly biased and action needs to be taken to ensure that Ian Smith is held accountable.

Weekend Wrap

An interesting weekend and plenty of talking points.  Not sure if I am covering all the sporting activity but here is what I saw and read about.

Peter Roebuck

I was in shock when  first read about this in the early hours of Sunday morning and with more facts on the story slowly coming out I am really at loss as to how I go about writing this article.  Roebuck is widely considered a great commentator and will be missed on the ABC's Grandstand this summer.  He called as he saw it and often polarised when he criticised popular players, but he spoke his thoughts and felt no reason to gloss over facts that he considered needing talking about.  Unfortunately the image of Roebuck will be forever tarnished and his private life may leave a bitter after taste on his image.  To take ones own life is a drastic step and is never an easy subject to handle.  It either means one cannot face up to what life is about to serve, they think that there is no other option or simply put a cowards way out of handling the reality of life.  With the allegations  of sexual assault now surfacing Roebucks personal life will take centre stage.  If it turns out to be true then take from it your own way to see how you remember him but if the claims stay unresolved then why would he take his own life. It would seem a strange reaction for an innocent man. I will be following this story closely to see how it folds out.

Do not think that I am not sympathetic to those who take or attempt to take their own life.  This is an issue I am close too and now how easily one can get into such situations.  If you are ever feeling like you are in dangerous territory or think someone you know is, you need to talk about it.  Trust me when I say that people will listen and take you seriously, you will be surprised how much your family and friends really care.

For help call:
Lifeline Australia:  13 11 14
Beyond Blue:  1300 224 636

 4 Nations

It will be Australia vs England in the final after England easily accounted for a lacklustre, grub of a team from New Zealand and Australia put on a score bigger than their cricket counterparts after an early scare.

I have only seen highlights of the Australian game and don't think much can be taken from this game.  Once the big guns Scott, Thaiday and Gallen came on the game changed and with Lockyer back in the team Australia will turn it on against an improving England.

What I think needs to be addressed though is the continual tactics of New Zealand and in particular Issac Luke.  Every game they play they have players on report for acts that are designed to specifically injure players.  Issac Luke for instance has been reported in both games against Australia and now the game against England, surely he does not have a clean record to allow him to keep getting off.  Then you take the actions of Packer and Jeremy Smith with deliberate elbows and you wonder what sort of message this team is sending the next generation.  And after his performances against Australia and England it is time everyone stopped saying how good Benji Marshall is.  Here is a game that New Zealand needed to win and he was missing, which is pretty much the same in most tests he plays.  A few minutes of brilliance does not make a great player.  A game is eighty minutes and how you play even when your team is behind is what makes you.

Roar on 34

The Roar were held by bottom of the table Wellington but should have really won this game.  Issey Nakajima-Farran had plenty of opportunities and missed one easy chance to put this game away.  Watching Issey play in amongst a well drilled clynical team is frustrating and seems out of place.  He definitely has talent but is very erratic.  It could have been the nerves of a starting game and having to step up for the missing Nichols but he needs to improve to get another starting spot.

Nice Guy Greg Chalmers

It is always nice to see the nice guys win and to see an emotional Chalmers win the Australian Open was great for the game.  All the talk has been about Tiger Woods and to his credit he came third but it is time everyone got over this bloke and gave credit to other golfers.  He is not bigger than the game and now that he is not winning al the time maybe his angry outbursts should be held in the same light as John Daly's.  Albeit though Woods wouldn't walk off on the first round.  Chalmers is now a two time winner of the Open and currently ranked 215 in the world beat a very highly regarded field.  He should be given every due that goes his way.  He has shown that nice guys don't always finish last.


It is looking like an interesting week unfolding reading todays headlines and with the 2nd test coming up their could be some heads on the chopping block.

Weekend Wrap

Another week gone and another week of sport is being heavily discussed around the world.

Carroll is a favourite but is finding it hard to put the ball in the back of the net.

Straight off the bat I will state that Liverpool FC were disappointing at home.  Anfield is a home fortress and yet Liverpool are unable to put teams away.  In a game they should have won they were held to a draw by a team that was written off before the game.  A draw is still better than a loss but it is still points lost.  Liverpool need to get more out of their great home ground advantage.

The 4 nations is half way through completion and the weekend games saw no surprises.  The kiwis made easy work of Wales and the Kangaroos won over a English team that thinks it is better than it is and Australia didm't even hit top gear.  Australia are now without Slater for the rest of the tournament but have ample coverage in Boyd and Stewart. Australia though may need to look at the team structure.  Surely Corey Parker should be on the bench and used in tandem with Watmough would have the pair of them hitting hard during the entirety of the time they are on the pitch.  Lawrence is doing ok but I cannot see how he is one of the best two centres in Australia.  His positioning is questionable and never looks like being a game breaker in attack. England will be nursing their wounds and all the whinging in the world about the ref and what could of been will not help them in their next game.  With injuries to their forwards, Powell, Peacock and Ellis they will struggle to back up and defeat the Kiwis next week.  Either way they it will be a hard game for either team to back up from and be fresh for the final against an Australian team is will be looking to farewell Lockyer in style.

  

Darren Lehmann has definitely brought the magic back to Queensland cricket

The Queensland Bulls just keep on winning and after a good win in the Shield game have gone on to defeat Western Australia in the Ryobi One Day Competition.  Queensland now have 3 outright wins in 3 games in the shield and 3 wins from 3 games in the one day comp.  This is a team that is performing with abt and ball and the results are well deserved.  Fingers are crossed Lehmann is not beckoned away for National duty until this season is over.  It is looking good for silverware this season.

Ian Thorpe has made his comeback and even by his own assessment was not where all expectation had him performing.  What is annoying is how the media make such a big issue of his return expecting him to be back at his best but love to highlight now that he has not done too well.  The Australian media is beyond a joke when it comes to the expectations they place on our athletes, applaud there achievements and then be the first one to stick the boot in when the chance arrives.   For me it is a long road back for Thorpe due to the length of time out of the sport and may never reach his past heights. Give him credit just for getting back and being competitive.


There was plenty of other action during the week so if you haven't read some of my previous posts you might find articles about events not covered here.  Thanks again for reading, pass the word, and I am always happy for feedback.

Weekend Wrap 2

What a weekend of sport.  Theme of the weekend was "Appalling refereeing". 

 Darren Lockyer puts on scare on the Broncos Finals Series

As far as the NRL goes the results were great.  A mighty Broncos overpowered a team of red and white that were helped in a large way by the ref.  It was amazing that the St George players didn't fall asleep in the tackles as they layed there that long without moving.  And what an amazing and courageous performance by Lockyer.  To be able to stay on the field after a sickening friendly fire hit to he head and still win the game was pure class.  And to hear that he has had surgery and needed 3 plates for a broken cheekbone this morning confirmed how tough he is.  And as previously reported the Tigers were put out of there misery for another year.  Only one more Sydney team to be removed and I think the Broncos team will make sure of that.  Then we can have another grand final with no teams in Sydney and wonder why they get the final every year and put it on a Sunday night.

Rugby World Cup or should I say Rugby World Farce.  I have not been able to watch every game but I am at a loss as to what the refs are doing.  And my expert commentator on the sidelines (Johnyjojoshabadoo) has informed me that the Wallabies must have thought they turned up to a World Cup for a different sport as the decisions we that bad.  And watching Wales play Samoa today I was at a loss to understand how the Samoans could be penalised for the same things being done by the Welsh without penalty.  Lets not hope this trend continues.

AFL had finals and it didn't even rate on my agenda this weekend.  Happy to hear Carlton got knocked out but that's about as much as I know and want to know about.

In the cricket the Aussies are toiling well and Marsh and Hussey have done well again.  Unfortunately this test will be remembered for how bad technology is when interpreting the LBW rule.  If the ball pitches in front of the wickets and is going on to hit the wicket it is out.  It does not matter how much of the ball is hitting the wicket.  Simple as that.  You find me in the rule book where it says at least so much of the ball needs to hit the wicket.  Especially when you are using technology that cannot be perfect as the camera is not in the right position to start with.  Until it is perfect scrap the technology.

Only one more game of importance this week and that is later tonight.  Liverpool v Tottenam.  Liverpool should bounce back into the winning circles with a convincing performance here.  I think the players are pumped for a big one here with many disappointed with there last outing..  3-0 is my prediction.

Keep posted and spread the word.

Lockyer the Legend

This Sunday I am looking forward to watching Darren Lockyer have his day in the sun as he gets the fan day he deserves on the hallowed ground that is Lang Park.  It will be even greater to see the Broncos smash the Manly whingers.  Lockyer will go down as one the the greatest players of all time and looking at his record it is easy to see why:

He has the record for the most games played, on top of that it is all for the Broncos.
36 games for Queensland in State of Origin - A record.
55 Tests for Australia - Another record

I could go on adding to these stats but rather I will point out impressive.

4 Premierships with Brisbane and 1 more to add this year.
Has won the Golden Boot Award twice, once as a fullback and once as a Five-eighth.
Highest Kangaroo Try scorer.

South of the border they like to think that Lockyer is overrated.  Hard to argue with statistics and records.
If he wore a gay blue jersey they probably would have already made him an immortal.  Bring on statue number two at Lang Park.