Just a bit of background for you, 2 years ago whist I was living in London my friends and I found it very difficult to stay abreast (yes I said breast) with all the Rugby League news back in Australia so I started an e-mail newsletter which was an entertainment based look at the goings on in the world of Rugby League.
Firstly about myself, I had played junior representative Rugby League with Manly and my beloved Balmain Tigers at which point I wasn't good enough to make it to first grade so I had a year for my local team the Narrabeen Sharks and retired at the ripe old age of 23. However I do find the older I get the better I was. (See pic below, me on an average Saturday night out making New Zealanders jealous.)
Since then our team has grown to include our Asian intern (which means he makes us bourbon and cokes on command basically) Jay Way Ling (see pic below). He is always on his computer in the corner of the office and interestingly is always trying to increase our internet download capacity and speed, and vehemently against website filters and blockers, he is also on his third keyboard from 'sticky keys' which he puts down to 'working hard'.
and the newest member to the team Kyle who is in charge of research, this is a very different role to his former job as a flight attendant. See below.
There is a bit of tension between Jay Way and Kyle especially when Kyle tries to tell Jay Way how to make drinks, at which time Jay Way says he cant hear him and he should open the doors and come out of that closet!!!!
Right then, lets get on with the show, there's only a couple of weeks until the season proper kick off, we have had the Indigenous vs NRL all stars match which is growing in stature each year, this year was won by the all stars, there were some interesting rules trialled in the game such as automatic restarting of the tackle count for a differential penalty in the ruck which certainly let the match flow without the stoppage of kicking for touch, which would have been tough for the players first game of the season. Another was the power play, where for 5 minutes the other team must drop 2 players off the field, each team has one power play a half, interesting indeed.
Well with the season almost upon us, it's time to look at the best and most riskiest signings for 2012, we start off with a team of the best signings and then my top 10 most risky signings.
Team of Best signings 2012
Fullback- Darius Boyd (Newcastle)
Wingers- Phil Graham (Titans), Joel Reddy (Tigers)
Centers- Matt King (Souths), Willie Tonga (Parramatta)
Five Eighth- Ben Roberts (Parramatta)
Halfback- Chris Sandow (Parramatta)
Lock- Adam Blair (Tigers)
Second Rowers- James Graham (Bulldogs), Ryan Hoffman (Storm)
Hooker- Danny Buderus (Knights)
Front Rowers- Petero Civoniceva (Brisbane), Kade Snowden (Knights)
Reserves- Bryce Gibbs (Sharks), Clint Newton (Panthers), Robert Lui (Cowboys), Luke Douglas (Titans)
Top 10 Riskiest Signings
1. Daniel Mortimer (Roosters)- Was a five eighth and signed on big money at Parramatta but not rated by coach Kearney and played most of 2011 in reserve grade before being thrown a life line by the Roosters who apparently want to turn him into a fullback, perhaps to take over from Minichello when he retires, always risky changing positions, especially to fullback which is a specialist and tactical position.
2. Dane Laurie (Panthers)- Showed plenty of promise when he started at the Tigers a few years ago, he then went to Panthers and was sacked for drinking on a trans Tasman flight to play for the Windsor Wolves, now 26 and has not done much in first grade as yet, interesting to see if Bennett can get something out of him.
3. Andrew Fifita (Sharks)- Was allowed to leave the Tigers because of a perceived attitude problem, was snapped up by the Sharks as they lost Snowden and Douglas to rival clubs, has plenty of talent but unless he has changed his attitude he will struggle if not straight away then at some stage in the season
4. Jason Ryles (Storm)- At 33 he is getting on in age, he was quite a good player in his hey day but I think he has slowed down the last couple of years, the struggling Roosters releasing him is not a good sign but the Storm have a habit of getting the best out of aging journeymen.
5. Todd Carney (Shraks)- Some would say Carney should be no 1 on this list and the odds of him staying out of trouble and off the drink are not in his favour. The reason he is not is because for the Sharks it is a risk worth taking. The Sharks have some young inexperienced halves and when switched on, Carney is one of the best in the league such as his Dally M medal only 2 years ago.
6. Jamal Idris (Titans) - On big money as a marquee signing at the Titans and I don’t think he is up to that standard, there will be big expectation on him and he will have to improve his reading in defence, get more involved and be more consistent to live up to his hype, he is still young though and can develop his game.
7. Luke MacDougall (Bulldogs)- Was a fair player before he left to play Rugby Union in England, but he is now 29 and is at his 6th NRL club so he will need all his speed and strength to be up to scratch to compete at this level.
8. Shaun Berrigan (Raiders)- Is 33 years of age now and not as quick as he used to be at the Broncos playing in the centres at the start of his career. Although is an honest player who has always been very fit and can handle hooker well, he is a good replacement for the retired Canberra legend Alan Tongue.
9. Petero Civoniceva (Brisbane)- At 35 he is the oldest player in the NRL and returning to the club where he has played over 200 games in Brisbane. He had a great season last year for the Panthers and has had a distinguished career, but always a risk with injuries at that age especially in the front row. Having said that though I think he is definitely worth the risk and wouldn’t be surprised if he plays every game this season.
10. Adam Blair (Tigers)- Another big money marquee signing with expectation on him to perform. The media tried to say it was his signing that drove other players out and caused disharmony in the ranks. I think Blair is a very good player whose style will suit the Tigers and will justify his money, time will tell.
Lets take a look at the lookalike wall, first off we loyal subscriber Thad King. Now Thad likes to think he looks a bit like former dual international Scott Gourley but we think defferently, so who do you think he looks most like. Former Bronco and Cowboy and Wayne Bennetts love child Scott Minto, or current Gold Coast Titan Ashley Harrison.
Will be feeling quite nervous and anxious to start the event and get it over and done with.
They have been training for a long time to condition their muscles for the deed, one working on all their muscles out on the field and in the gym, the other working only a couple of muscles in their bedroom and shower.
They will both make a few mistakes and it won’t be a particularly coordinated performance, both won’t be conditioned for it and will probably sweat and be out of breath for most of it. Their will be errors, both will probably miss the target a few times and their timing and rhythm will certainly be out.
Both will be happy to get that one under their belt and will hopefully play again the following weekend, but this time against a different opposition because they are now both fully fledged players!!!!!!
Well there you have it, the very first edition of Loving League with Lavers in BLOG form. Now it is over to you, we are known as the peoples blog because this is made for you, the people. So we would like your thoughts and feelings on anything and everything discussed above, so get on board and have your say.
And remember
I'm Loving League with Lavers
I will never take Scott Minto on board. Surely he is a dead ringer for Weyling these days.
ReplyDeleteShut up Minto. I'm Lockyer, League Great, on board cheers
ReplyDeleteThere is only one vote 'for' Minto and zero for Harrison therefore it's settled, TK your Minto!!!!
ReplyDelete