Way out of their League...
October 21st 2006 06:46
Oh boy, Eddie’s at it again.
I think Eddie Jones secretly wants to be a League coach. Has he not learned from his mistakes as Wallaby coach? Now he’s recruiting league-ies for the Qld Reds.
Yeah because the last one proved just so successful. Wen-dell will they learn?
Ex Canberra Raiders (NRL team) player Clinton Schifcofske is set to make the big move, making his debut as winger for the Queensland Reds, next month. According to www.sportal.com.au Schifcofske “is confident he will be able to adapt to the restricted running space offered in rugby union...”
Famous last words.
It’s “restricted running space” because of the size of the men on the field.
For your sake Clinton...I hope you run like the wind. Wingers run fast because Forwards eat chicken...
Look...saying that a league player can make the transition to Rugby Union is like saying a squash player can make it to Wimbledon.
Or maybe they can, I don’t know enough about these sports.
How about this then?
It’s like saying doing an aerobic boxing class at the gym has prepared you to go 15 rounds in the ring. Or cleverly dodging traffic on a Vespa means you could kick Valentino Rossi’s ass.
I don’t think so.
I will not go into the whole technical Rugby versus league thing. I’m obviously not a league fan. I don’t understand the simplicity of this game. I don’t understand the mentality of the players. I don’t understand the need for cheerleaders. I don’t understand why you have forwards in a scrum free game.
BUT before league fans come down all hard on my blogging ass.... it’s not your fault that your players think they can play Rugby.
As for the ARU...I have already stated elsewhere, just because I love Rugby does not mean I am blind to the stupidity.
Lote Tuqiri is the only league convert who has been successful.
It is important to note he was born in a predominantly Rugby Union loving country. A country that declared a National public holiday when their Sevens Rugby team won an International Tournament.
Rugby Union is in his heritage.
Plus he was smart about his conversion (...tee hee...). He swam under the radar and bided his time and he watched and he learned and now...he’s The Shark.
He actually made my Wallabies Dream Squad.
Does Rugby really need any more out of their league (pun most definitely intended) show ponies?
Please do not spout fairness and ‘melting pot’ platitudes at me.
Equality is great and the way the world should be but equality means being fair to ALL.
Giving a league convert more money AND a Wallaby jersey (and this Sailor really sank his ship, didn't he? In Rugby and in league) without having done the hard yards from childhood, without having scored a club rugby try...that’s not being fair. That is elitism.
My sons (and my daughter) all play/played rugby. It would be a dream come true and an absolute honour, for them and all the other young hopefuls, to wear the Rugby green and gold for their country.
Alas...The joke doing junior rugby rounds? Wanna be a Wallaby? Play league.
There are many, many differences between Rugby and league and knowing that ‘yous’ is not a word, is the least of them.
I think Eddie Jones secretly wants to be a League coach. Has he not learned from his mistakes as Wallaby coach? Now he’s recruiting league-ies for the Qld Reds.
Yeah because the last one proved just so successful. Wen-dell will they learn?
Ex Canberra Raiders (NRL team) player Clinton Schifcofske is set to make the big move, making his debut as winger for the Queensland Reds, next month. According to www.sportal.com.au Schifcofske “is confident he will be able to adapt to the restricted running space offered in rugby union...”
Famous last words.
It’s “restricted running space” because of the size of the men on the field.
For your sake Clinton...I hope you run like the wind. Wingers run fast because Forwards eat chicken...
Look...saying that a league player can make the transition to Rugby Union is like saying a squash player can make it to Wimbledon.
Or maybe they can, I don’t know enough about these sports.
How about this then?
It’s like saying doing an aerobic boxing class at the gym has prepared you to go 15 rounds in the ring. Or cleverly dodging traffic on a Vespa means you could kick Valentino Rossi’s ass.
I don’t think so.
I will not go into the whole technical Rugby versus league thing. I’m obviously not a league fan. I don’t understand the simplicity of this game. I don’t understand the mentality of the players. I don’t understand the need for cheerleaders. I don’t understand why you have forwards in a scrum free game.
BUT before league fans come down all hard on my blogging ass.... it’s not your fault that your players think they can play Rugby.
Lote Tuqiri is the only league convert who has been successful.
It is important to note he was born in a predominantly Rugby Union loving country. A country that declared a National public holiday when their Sevens Rugby team won an International Tournament.
Rugby Union is in his heritage.
Plus he was smart about his conversion (...tee hee...). He swam under the radar and bided his time and he watched and he learned and now...he’s The Shark.
He actually made my Wallabies Dream Squad.
Does Rugby really need any more out of their league (pun most definitely intended) show ponies?
Please do not spout fairness and ‘melting pot’ platitudes at me.
Equality is great and the way the world should be but equality means being fair to ALL.
Giving a league convert more money AND a Wallaby jersey (and this Sailor really sank his ship, didn't he? In Rugby and in league) without having done the hard yards from childhood, without having scored a club rugby try...that’s not being fair. That is elitism.
My sons (and my daughter) all play/played rugby. It would be a dream come true and an absolute honour, for them and all the other young hopefuls, to wear the Rugby green and gold for their country.
Alas...The joke doing junior rugby rounds? Wanna be a Wallaby? Play league.
There are many, many differences between Rugby and league and knowing that ‘yous’ is not a word, is the least of them.
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
I'm afraid I'm not into sport!
But I loved your comment on Lily's post and I'll have to have a go at some art that resonates,
it may take some time.
It seems your subconscious is taking you on a different journey. I do hope we can stay connected.
katyzzz!
Comment by StephenP
NRL News
I am a fan of Union, but obviously a greater fan of league, and I cannot for the life of me understand why 'Unionites' have a supereriority complex when it comes to their game.
If Union is a much smarter, physically demanding game then League, than WHY are the ARU raiding our perceived mentally challenged, socailly inferior NRL ranks??
Schifcofske is referring to the fact that there are 4 extra, overweight players on a rugby field - have you not noticed that, or is that part of the simplicity you are referring to??
I agree that a Squash player probably would not be able to compete at Wimbledon, or an aerobic boxing class attendee would not be able to last in a boxing bout - BUT do you really think there is that much of an outrageously vast difference between the two rugby codes??
Why shouldn't the league players chase the greater dollar, if the ARU are prepared to fork it out?
As for insinuation that all League players are 'meatheads' whilst all Union players apparently are educated, eloquent gentlemen, I beleive that this generalisation may contain a tinge of 'elitism' in itself.
The aim of this comment is not too provoke a personal
attack against yourself, but merely a response to the 'elitism' and arrogance of the rugby union fraternity.
Why can't both codes survive together without the constant sniping??
Cheers,
StephenP.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
You can’t understand why “... ‘unionites’ have a supereriority complex when it comes to their game”....but Stephen...you said you were a fan?? Them be spectator words lad...
Thank you for commenting...your response is articulate, fair and valid. And, with the exception of "I am a fan of Union"...wrong.
I'm kidding. I'm kidding!! I appreciate you reading my post. You are a better person than I because if the i-ssue was on the other foot, if I was faced with an anti-rugby post...grr...I’d rant and rave and not write as polite!
My 'superiority complex' stems from liking my sport rough and tough but also stimulating and wheels in constant thinking motion.
Not just fast.
I understand that not having scrums and line-outs makes the game faster, etc but...I don’t see the point. It’s Rugby. The ball is meant to be contested.
I’m not really having a go at League and certainly not having a go at the fans. I don’t know much about the game. That's just me, my choice, my opinion. It’s like how I love and know Moto GP but don’t care about the Superbikes.
Of course the 2 codes can survive without sniping but I’m not part of the Rugby fraternity. I’m one of the Rugby sorority. I can only speak my absolutes from a woman's point of view.
I will concede league has players of class, dignity, chivalry and wit. Players that came to mind are Luke Ricketson and Paul Harrigan...but surely you must agree that most league players dig their own 'meathead' graves.
Most of them are the product of too young, too famous too fast, too pampered. This, if unchecked gives rise to what I call the ‘Super-I-Priority’ Complex...this behaviour is what gives a good game, a bad name and unfortunately seems to be prevalent in league.
Just recently a documentary was aired on SBS, made by an acquaintance of mine.
'Footy Chicks' www.footychicks.com.au
This award winning documentary highlights my above point.
Perhaps the ARU has secret deportment classes in their player contracts or there’s an unspoken coda that Thou Shalt Be A Gentleman Warrior or it's just genetic predisposition because 99% of Rugby players are “educated, eloquent gentlemen”...regardless of background, education and demographic. I know this to be true...I have 4 rugby playing sons, 22, 19, 18 and 10 and I'm married to an ex player/current juniors coach.
Rugby people feel superior about our players simply because our Rugby players are humble. And respectful, to all...even refs..."You're f&%king blind...Sir"
Please note; that sort of language is not condoned nor tolerated. Referees should not be accused of being visually impaired. !!!!!!
League players have nurturing, loving women in their lives so I do not then understand the 'Rock Star' misogynist strain that runs rife in league.
Also...before the era of professionalism and the big bucks, rugby players were categorically told, "if you leave to play league, don't come back"...this was when league had all the money. Rugby players who ‘defected’ were considered pariahs, never to go back.
Don't forget many of the great league players have their origin in Rugby Union. Wally Lewis, Ray Price, Ricky Stuart, to name just the few.
I don’t give a damn if a player wants to switch codes. That’s not my point.
My point is that the switching players should start from scratch and earn their right to Rugby.
To assume that one can play Rugby because one can run fast...is that not arrogance?
Rugby Union is a game for all shapes and size. How is that elitist?
To say that Rugby is an elitist code...is that not elitism?
AND Rugby people are perplexed at why the ARU pillages elsewhere when 'our town' is full of grain. The money they spend buying league players, this money could be spent on junior development. I can't explain the thinking..or lack of...suffice to say, it's frustrating that the fast track to being a Wallaby is not dedication, grit and determination...it's running fast with a ball, ANY ball.
Sigh...then they gripe there's no depth of Forwards to choose from.
As for the "4 extra, overweight players on a rugby field"...I'm not sure what you are referring to as league has only 2 less players than Rugby. Are you referring to the flankers? Sure, they're big but there's only 2 of them...
It’s interesting that league forwards don't make the transition to Rugby...you have to agree that the difference between the codes is the way we move Forward...
My apologies for this epic. It's Monday morning and I have already had far too many coffees!
Thanks StephenP
DuskDevi
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I don't know where my subconscious is taking me...but the trip is certainly enjoyable.
Thank you again. It's beautiful.
PS. although your artwork has so many colours and shades, it is the blues and the pinks that really stand out for me.
Comment by KarenC
Genghis Gal
I appreciate all 3 codes, and have been to watch all 3 codes. All codes have their dickheads. Admittedly when I'm thinking about them the ones that come to mind are Canterbury Bulldogs and Collingwood. Struggling for the high profile ones in Union. But I'm also from a private north shore (Catholic) school in Sydney where I grew up playing hockey and watching my big bro play union, and going to my boyfriends' union games. (apostrophe placed correctly - they were from Sydney Grammar and Riverview)
I think it comes down to what really grabs you. I grew up in the heart of Manly Sea Eagles territory, yet I don't get league. I grew up watching GPS schools (and my brother's school) playing union. Yet my heart lies with AFL, a sport I wasn't exposed to until I was about 15.
And DuskDevi, we both have our Eddies that we're ashamed of. Eddie McGuire has to win.The Collingwood fixture has just been released and they play 18 of their 22 games in Melbourne and 15 of those games at the MCG. How fair is that?
I think I'm getting off track, though. Wait a sec while I revisit your post ...
My cousins are from Qld and say 'yous'.
We have one reasonably successful convert from Union - The Hyphenator, Lewis Roberts-Thompson. He is, admittedly, the joke of the AFL world. Until the 2005 grand final, that is. Doubters eat your words.
I think because there are more similarities between league and union than there are between those 2 codes and my beautiful game the crossovers are more common. Plus, we're still grasping for supporters here in NSW, where Union and NRL are set.
Oh and just re-reading it I was reminded about one of my reasons for posting. I'm actually a ref at a sport and I am sworn at and abused and yelled at, but I think it's part of being involved in sport. Yes, I can send my players to the sin bin if they get out of control. Swearing at me is not acceptable. Everyone knows that. But in the heat of the moment, the occasional "F" word is okay. As long as it's not threatening. And most often it's not. I myself want to tell the players I'm refereeing to f-off every ten seconds (it's wheelchair rugby and there are many ten second rules that they start yelling at me about). Everyone knows the consequences, when they step (or should I say roll) over the line.
It's not about the intelligence of your players, but the spectacle of the game that decides your allegiance. And for me, aerial ping pong is that much closer to the gods than any other sport ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I know you're in the same city as I... what's your excuse for being awake this late...or early? I find I write best at night plus my husband is away and I ususally don't sleep when he's not with me because I type the night away...
Thanks for your excellent comment.
Please don't read that wrong -
"And respectful, to all...even refs..."You're f&%king blind...Sir"
Please note; that sort of language is not condoned nor tolerated. Referees should not be accused of being visually impaired. !!!!!!
Twas a joke. It's the swearing that is not tolerated. My husband is a coach and a touch judge and like you, tolerates it to a point...hey...I missed the point here...you're a ref?? Way cool. Wheelchair rugby?? Way brutal.
We're talking 'Murderball' right?
YOU are tough. I played rugby and ski down mountains and over waves but I would never ever do what you do. Scary shit.
I went to boarding school in Qld and if any of us ever dared to say "yous" (although it wasn't as commonly used as it is now), the nuns would slap us across the wrists with cat-o-nine-tails...
Last word before I move on...for me, rugby is the game they play in heaven...
Karen...what is your profile photo?
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
We meet again, you do work so hard and eloquently at what you do, they call it footie? don't they, I'll
keep the pinks and blues in mind, meanwhile I have created some Art, up on site, using the teal, blue, purples, orange and fuschia which you indicated you liked so much. I do hope you like what I have done, especially for you.
That boarding school education is shining through like a bright light.
I shall return to your site and try to unscramble my mind sufficiently for me to open up my mind just a tiny bit.
I didn't realise that girls could be into football and have an artistic persuasion as well.
We live and learn.
From a position of 100% bias, I bid you an interim farewell!
katyzzz
Comment by KarenC
Genghis Gal
I am a bit of a night person and often find myself at 1 in the morning typing away or still watching a DVD. Admittedly, getting out of bed is very difficult ...
Yep, it's murderball. An awesome, awesome game. I first saw it at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000 and it really grabbed me. It is second only to AFL as far as sports that I love.
The profile photo is actually a Mongolian stamp of a swan. When I added my Genghis blog I changed my photo to incorporate my love of all things Swans and all things Mongolian.
And hey Katyzzz - I too am obsessed with both sport and the arts. Not all sports fans are bogans. Although I definitely have my moments ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I just left a comment on your site about the artwork...thank you so much. They're all beautiful but especially 'welcome'...
"I didn't realise that girls could be into football and have an artistic persuasion as well."
Oh absolutely...and they can be in to Astro-Physics and Astro-psychology and fashion and eclecticism and first edition classics and graphic novels and movies and books and Star Wars and Earthly Peace and God and humanity and community and individuality...as well.
I am a Gamma katyzzz..so are you...and I believe so is KarenC...
DuskDevi
Comment by KarenC
Genghis Gal
I love the Gamma bags, DuskDevi. I have a mental image of me rollerblading around Olympic Park with a fuchsia sparkly Gamma bag holding my MP3 player and my water, as all the other rollerbladers and cyclists stare at me enviously, wishing they could combine exercise and glamour so effortlessly.
Is there a store in Sydney or is it all online? And do they come in fuchsia. That would, after all, colour coordinate with my lightsaber.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Okay...sigh...you know, I just got "...I changed my photo to incorporate my love of all things Swans..." . When I first read it, I thought oh, she likes swans, lovely, graceful birds...sigh...I get it now...you like your Swans red and white.
In my defense, I think I had an acupuncture session that day...tends to sloooowww me down...
Great profile pic representation of who you are. I love it.
As for the GammaBags...oh yeah...they so go with your diamante/fuschia lightsaber!
Alas, I'm not making the fuschia ones (GlamDusk) yet...only GlamOcean (the irridescent aquamarine/turquoise/indigo with fuschia/orange flower) and GlamAzon (black/bronze/petroleum).
All can be found online only...and about to go on sale...
Eeek, was that a shameless plug??
Thanks KarenC...
DuskDevi