NRL Round 5 – Prop in the Canefield: You gotta love footy!

 

 

I know this first part  is a bit dated but I have to add the report/review from my Vegas reporter.

Rugba leeg in Las Vegas

We arrived at the Luxor Hotel, 2.00am Friday: The Luxor is our hotel of choice, our room is one of 36000 odd rooms owned by the MGM empire in the area. After checking out various hotels on the net, I started receiving advertisements on my phone on a regular basis from the Luxor.  A classic example of pyramid selling, I thought to myself. It turned out to be an inspired choice. A short walk of 10 minutes to Allegiant Stadium or the ‘Death Star’ as it is known.

We joined the 200-odd other hopefuls in the check-in line and were eventually told to take the silver elevators to our room, a short 500m walk from reception. Safe to say, it is the first time I have passed 2 sets of toilets between reception and the lift. A long day for sure. I mumbled something about never leaving home again and spending the rest of my life drinking beer in my shed and crashed.

Game Day: Australians are everywhere, decked out in their club colours. A surprising number have travelled from England as well. I can’t see a lot of evidence that Rugby League is in town apart from all the Australians but there is a lot to take in. In summary, stadium – brilliant; game day experience – fantastic. Football – great.

However, having a few beers at the footy is a different matter! You need the ability to turn off the money meter in your head or have very deep pockets, preferably both. A combination of high prices, US$17.99 plus tax, plus dud exchange rate is not a good recipe. If you are feeling generous, tip options are 14%, 18% or NO. 4 beers came in just shy of A$120.  Not the place to be getting ‘as drunk as a mug punter at the Stranglers Arms in Southport on a Saturday arvo’.  I thought of my usual NRL grand final touring mates (which includes the Prop in the Cane Field) and was glad that they were not with me as I quickly calculated the cost of 20 schooners or so. My touring captain, Steve, loves a beer but does not consume it in the excessive quantities of those blokes.

Las Vegas: Scale is the word I kept using. Everything is on a massive scale. Hotels the size of a country town. Hundreds of them. ‘Sin City’? Not too difficult for a couple of 60-year-old blokes to stay out of trouble and avoid the pitfalls. All in all, a fantastic promotion!

Now the Footy – Again we couldn’t complain about the standard of football from the last 2 rounds. Some was fantastic and some was unbelievable. After Coates’ try at the end of Round 1 which is still remarkable, Round 2 had Leota’s footwork against the Eels followed by Mariner’s speed against  the Bunnies. And then a Round 3 Cleary masterclass which was something. Not just his play but his composure and direction of his team. Without harping on the Clearys, the coach also deserves accolades for what he has done! Penrith, aided by Cleary, were too strong for the Broncos without Haas and Reynolds. And they were clinical in demonstrating how good they are. The West Tigers also got a win which was great for their new coach, and the Cowboys gave the Dragons a lesson reminding them of the mountain they have to conquer.

Round 4 saw another classic piece of footy. Dearden’s tackle on Cobbo was a genuine talking point. Likewise the Easter Monday win of the Tigers. They actually showed resolve that the faithful have been crying out for. At the same time the Titans have to do something this round or they will be giving tickets away to get people there. Again, Penrith, even without their big names, were too good for the Roosters and I felt the score flattered the Roosters.

Round 5 starts with a great clash between the Broncos and Storm. With Reynolds fit the Broncos are a tough team to beat but Bellamy’s record over the Broncos (especially at AAMI Park) is very good. Good to see Oates back but the missing Walsh and Haas still being out is a concern. Munster back is a plus so I think the Storm will be too strong. The Roosters will deal with Canterbury and the Knights have been very disappointing and the Dragons inconsistent. The halves roundabout at the Knights doesn’t help their cause. Likewise, the Rabbitohs have to win over the Warriors but their inconsistency, especially with the ball, is a worry. The Warriors resistance will be a lot tougher than what they met last week.

DCE sets a Manly record at Brookie on Saturday and I remember his first A Grade match for Mackay Brothers in 2006 with his dad Troy (a tough as teak hooker forward) as coach. A terrific record but I find it impossible to tip against Penrith. Cleary’s replacement, Schneider, was steady last  week and Luai showed he can get his team around the park. At least for Manly the Turbo can’t play that bad again.

The Dolphins and the Tigers is a game of great interest. They are potentially playing for the top spot. Who would predict that! Redcliffe versus the Tigers conjures up memories of great Lang Park clashes including the 1977 BRL decider won by the Tigers 17-13. The Morris Brothers (Des and Rod for non-Queenslanders), Lang, Lindenberg, Currie, Compass Callus for the Tigers and Bunny, Leis, Obst, and  Grayson to name but a few for Redcliffe. A game for the purist.

The Cowboys will cause more Hasler hair to depart and the Eels should have put the Tigers away well and truly last week so need to win this week. Ricky’s Raiders have copped another coach blast so at home they have to win, but I can’t see where it will come from.

So, my selections are Storm, Roosters, Dragons, Warriors, Panthers, Dolphins, Cowboys, and the Eels who have to be better than last week. Sharks will be comfortable over the bye.

I was contacted a week ago by a league follower who referred to himself as The Analyst and he reads the Almanac. I said, “Well, send me your view from the lounge”. Here it is below:

Maybe a blessing in disguise that Galvin gets 2 weeks. He can have a bit of a spell, get his nutrition, hydration and sleep right, get lifting in the gym and watch plenty of footy. Also avoid his smaller frame playing every single week and adding unnecessary mileage. I don’t think I’ve seen many 18yos come in and play First Grade in the halves this well – admittedly only been 3 weeks so I think playing 24 games in First Grade with his current frame would not be viable long term. The dilemma is their immediate success is kind of tied to his hip, along with Api and Bula. (If he hasn’t been the best fullback in the comp to start the year I’m not here.)

Thanks, Analyst.

My season prediction positions after Round Four:  Penrith 2nd, Bronco’s 12th, Melbourne 5th, South’s 16th, Rooster’s 7th, Cowboys 3rd, Newcastle 15th and St George 13th.

Odd fact: Round 4 had the highest attendance ever for a Round of Rugby League. Great news, now fix up the Shepherd rule!

Valé

I have missed the last two rounds after the passing of my wife of almost 40 years, Donna, who I only ever referred to as the Golden Girl or G Squared in my Almanac ramblings. G Squared loved footy (sort of). I thought I would provide 5 mostly unknown facts about her Rugby League support:

Her favourite players from the 70s was Fairfax and from the early 70s Ian Schubert (Roosters version);

Her all-time favourite was Billy Slater;

She supported any team who played against Balmain, Wests Tigers and Canberra;

She never understood why the Broncos let Ben Hunt go and loved watching him play, saying he never played any different now than what he did when he was a Blackwater Crusher in the Under 8s;

Queensland only.

I thank the many people who sent my family and me messages.

You gotta love footy!

 

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