So Meninga looks as menacing as always and now as Coach. He looks set for his goal of a Decade of Wins. He wants it so bad, that he wants to put it on the shelf next to his Greatest Player of All Award and his Ego.
Its so predictable that Stuart doesn't have what it takes to face Meninga head on - he's either too gutless or just plain distracted by the Refereeing as always (a hang-up since his Union days). This is why the Maroons will win the third match. Of course, Ricky will blame a Ref mistake or something that costs the match - blah, blah
That ain't good enough. The NSW Coach should be 'beyond' the Ref factor, hell - beyond the QLD factor as well
Des Hasler seems like the next 'Contender' to face Mal 'Darth Vader' Meninga. Des is like Pearce and Folkes - they base their regime on 'fitness' and Hasler taught Manly to still be in it in and come home in the 2nd half = x2 premierships.
Dirk Wellham is in the poll because besides the Blues predicament being so sad these past years - maybe Mr Intelligence himself, who led the Blues Cricketers to dominance and taught Steve Waugh all that he was to become - could weave some magic  ?

...finally, and you all probably know - I'm staking my claim upon Mark 'Sparkles' McGaw: Head of a successful 'Science Academy of Sport' that has churned out good sports people. Mark also looks after American Pro Wrestlers - this is probably from his Gladitator 'Hammer' days. Also, he successful had the OOMPH to sue a Television Network for $85,000 in damages.
Basically, what I'm saying is that he has the 'Intelligence' that is needed for a Coaching role ...a successful Coaching role. Meninga isn't intelligent, he just has a persona that is feared and respected by his team.
Well, Mark has the CHARISMA to match that without feeling intimidated. Sure Meninga has made his 'after footy' success 'through' League, but McGaw has been one of the very rare major successes outside of the game. Put it this way, he doesn't have to sell himself for an advert like most sportspeople end up doing.
The advantage of this is McGaw won't be afraid of losing like Meninga would - Mark can take it (the game) or leave it and this is pure 'confidence' in a very attacking nature.
Through in the fact that his Centre partner Andrew E.T. Ettingshausen is possibly the most successful Footy player outside of the any football sport (inc Soccer players, although they make millions from the game itself) here in Australia. Its a win/win combination if ever there was.
McGaw also faced up to Meninga upon the field and answered the challenge well - hell, it was his period that the blues were winning mostly! McGaw was never afraid of slapping Meninga around and even with his fists. In fact, McGaw seems to be the only player that slapped Meninga around. Sparkles was never intimidated ...although E.T. may have been at the size of Gene Miles, but Miles could never catch E.T. 

So with all this said: I think the word should be spread to bring forth Mark 'Sparkles/the Hammer' McGaw to put some spark into the game-plan of the the Blues and hammer the Maroons.
It would be nice to tease Meninga and make him think he was gonna make x10 straight series wins - only to be snuffed by McGaw at the final hurdle. I can see Meninga's lip curl at the site of Mark in the opposite box. 

The only other 'certainty' that I can think of and someone who could make x10 straight series wins easily - is none other than Peter Sterling. But we all know that will never happen as he has stated so, so many times. 

Oh, and the Grocer who took a swipe at Tallis during a celbrity match. Well, it was sad to see someone like him having some grunt while the team itself lacked any. They have some grunt now through one player ...damn, I forget his name right now - the Sharks forward and a UFC fighter ...Gallen, that's it!. But League is a 'team' sport and there should be no 'individuals' or individual performances in the side ...except for the Coach. Mark McGaw is his own man, and he will never be 'owned' by Meninga.

So,  there you have it.

Des Hasler by a country mile...

I would think NSW are favourite to win. QLD are looking tired and there are form problems so if NSW loose this one they really should hang their heads.

As for Stuart, he is the worst coach in the game. He has taken every club side he has coached to the bottom from a better start when he took over. He embarrassed the nation when national coach and he just does not have it. Win or not NSW need a real coach for the future, not a hair brain like Stuart.

oh dear, looks like NSW are resigning Ricky for three years and Canberra are fav to sign him as coach over there as well. Looks like Canberra are favourites for the spoon in 2013.

It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Jun 26^th, 2012 at 6:59pm:



To be honest when 2 results came down to refereeing errors I think some criticism their way was due. How do they select a ref for the decider with a historical Qld bias?

How does a ref find a no obstruction decision when the instruction all year has been that to run behind a player is an automatic penalty?

In game 1 we had a ten min bin for a nothing punch which changed the game but in game 3 a serious punch didn't even get a penalty?

nairbe wrote on Jul 9^th, 2012 at 7:54pm:



Qld have never given up a game - it really does help to know what you are talking about.

Ordinary refereeing does not impact both teams when virtually all the ordinary decisions go the same way.

Dnarever wrote on Jul 9^th, 2012 at 8:15pm:



OH dear

Yes Yes in the early pre-super league era NSW did give up some games but the 94 - 96 sector was even. Then of late QLD gave to melbourne in the 09 series. Take a look.

http://stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/soo_idx.html

The rest is just sad rubbish, don't be so precious. NSW lost this year, QLD didn't win and i will maintain it is the looser coach you have.

Dnarever wrote on Jul 11^th, 2012 at 7:42pm:


Ricky brings passion for sure but too much passion and he cannot control it. He is like a Les Boyd or Mark Geyer he just can not keep it together at the right moments for the team.

I agree, i find it hard to see QLD winning next year and then for a couple while they rebuild but NSW don't really have a lot to work with either. They have the forwards at the moment but this passes quickly. It is in the back line thatNSW are really in trouble. They have no halves and most of the good young halves are QLDers. We look forward to Cherry-Evans maturing as a player. I wonder where NSW will find their backs? Too many show ponies like Hayne over the years that are not team players. It is personal glory not team. As i said NSW lost this series and they will do it again if they are not careful.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 12^th, 2012 at 9:02pm:


Yep that's right he has to be all the team because everyone else just isn't good enough. And you were saying about the team?

nairbe wrote on Jul 13^th, 2012 at 9:14pm:


If he wasn't a team player then he would do f.a. instead of a higher workload.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 14^th, 2012 at 7:43pm:


they have most of the back line because???? Your question answered. Thurston does not play the show pony and yes it is the job of the halves to direct traffic not try and win the game single handed all the time. There have been many great fullbacks over the years and centres that have been able to create play. The most important part is that unless they are a team they have no hope at all. The individual star like Hayne will shine sometimes but it won't win premierships or origins. Love him all you like and yes he is a good player but he is no team player.

Valid points MM.
But remember the Canberra V Balmain Grand Final.
The Tiger's had Ellery Hanley and some great players like Roach, Sironen, Elias, Pearce and more.
As too did the Raiders with Meninga, Backo, Belcher, Stuart, etc.

Now why did the Raiders win?
Because they were a 'team' and not a pack of individuals. The Australians won at Cricket because no matter how good McGrath and Warne were - they still played to the tune of Mark Taylor and then Steve Waugh, wether they won or lost. Taylor in turn served the whim of their skills - not personas.

The NSW Blues were constantly bunched throughout the series (again) - sure sign of lack of communication as a team as if they need to get in one another's ear to say "Hey! Talk to me." Maybe they are all 'too good' for one another
All that I know is that NSW can look as 'better' than the Maroons as they want: they can tackle better, run, better, kick better, swerve better, etc ...they just don't know how to win better.

With McGaw, they may not win 7+ straight series. But I can guarrantee you that NSW would THUMP QLD by large margins like never before in the series. Hell, I can see a 50-0 win by NSW !!!

Ok, lets go back for big D here

Blaming the Ref, especially in NRL of all codes - is not good enough.
NRL 'adudication'(spell?) is the worst of any Aust sports. So blaming the Refs is the ultimate cop-out.
...and if the Refs are corrupt in NRL, then again - they should have 'paid' better than the opposition.

des hassler,  the guy is inspirational and a fitness nut. i hear when he takes the family for a sunday drive he sometimes stops at a random oval and runs 10 laps.  love the bloke

Dez left Manly for $$$$$.....he's even had a hair cut.

Go MAROONS!!!