Yep I was a Bulldogs supporter (for probably only 5-6 yrs) before the Broncos started up - back when they were the entertainers and had Robbo, Mortimers, Terry Lamb etc.
It is unbelievable how the culture of a club - or probably more accurately its supporters can change so much from the 'family' club to what it is today. Must make you long time supporters shake your head.
Totally agree on the Roosters thing. I think their recruitment method for the past 10 years is to wait until another club spots and bloods them and then step in with their first big offer after 2 first grade games.
My perspective on Super League and some of the issues mentioned here.
It is different to a lot of others so feel free to bring out the flame throwers.
I am a passionate RL supporter ever since I started in the under 6's, and the big Super League wars were terrible dark days of uncertainty. However it had been obvious to anyone outside of Sydney that Arthurson & Quayle had to go. Coming from north of the border it was a totally NSWRL comp and badly biased that way (still is a little - night grand final/NSW public holiday, stadium guarantees done behind closed doors etc as examples), and would never expand under the white shoe brigade that was in charge with their Sydney only attitude. They only started making expansion and inter state compromise noises after the threat of SL came up, although to hear them tell it now there were 'grand plans afoot'.
Add to that, they were the first to start throwing the million dollar Marque player deals around to try to survive - Brad Fittler, The Chief etc not SL.
Meanwhile the Victorians were having a clue and starting a truly national sport - despite the same Vic parochialism within their ranks and the culling that was necessary to get it working properly.
SL wars certainly weren't ideal but I think ultimately necessary to drag the sport into the future, and keep up with the main rival code - the business plan was good, much better than previous admins, the only problem was the old admin had to let go of long held established protocols and inter club alliances, and that wasn't going to happen without blood letting.
We would still be running around with a predominantly (broke) Sydney comp if it didn't happen and it wouldn't be in the top echelon of Aus sports. We are pretty much running as per super league now and so are the Poms and the game is the best it has ever been. Too bad they compromised with the ARL and got rid of WA and SA as it would be interesting to see what the game would look like now.
I also don't like the player behavior nowadays as a lot of them are spoilt little turds.
But in saying that they are no different to any other high contact sports people who have been molly coddled from an early age.
It is a catch 22 when we find the fastest, strongest, most fearless youths in our society and pitch them into physical battle every week, with huge consequences on the outcome both monetary and emotional. We then also expect them to be well balanced individuals - if they were they would be here on newtriton and not training how to cripple a 115kg front rower on Friday night, so we breed this mongrel into them - just doesn't make for good citizens, and us the public wont allow them to get rid of the mongrels because our teams then lose.
AFL is no different with collisions and they have just as many social problems - we shouldn't even mention West coast Eagles - WTF is wrong with them!
They've still got the same coach and admin that oversaw, hid and accepted the massive drug culture in their ranks. I've got a mate lives there and he is a long time supporter - but he hates himself a little for it - must be like being a Manly supporter
I also played soccer for a few years (4th grade lol) and like the sport, absolute great fun to play but boring to watch (IMHO) but if you think the admin and fabric of the game has a problem in other codes, man go to a general meeting of your local club - take an interpreter and bullet proof vest.
The player behavior difference is the physical collisions are missing therefore they don't need to breed mongrels - but they fall down screaming and get carried off on a stretcher and then get off it on the sideline and run back on???? I hate to think what would have happened when I got home if my dad saw me do that!
Phew rant over, frustrations taken out. My dog is safe for another day.
Public apology to anyone this marathon post offended - except Manly supporters
... anyway I still wanted it checked out ... and sure enough - a faulty battery... Replaced under warranty, no dramas. They were even pretty nice about the whole thing... go figure...
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reference...???" that no-one responded
