Saturday, July 04, 2009
Reality Bites
My response to most people who have brought up the subject of the Warriors in recent weeks/months has been varied. To some I have launched into a diatribe about how inept their coaching and management has been while to others I have responded "don't get me started". Clearly my response depends on how much time I have.
And right now I've got a few minutes.
Basically they are fucked. They are more likely to win the wooden spoon than make the eight and the writing has been on the wall for quite some time. To get the truth do not listen to the guys on radio sport, or Steve Price, or Ropati, Nikau or McIvor on the tellie. All these guys have a vested interest in talking the side up or are linked with the team even on a cordial level.
To get the truth read what I've got to say or else head on over to the forum at Warriors online.
Essentially the Warriors have fucked up in two key areas. One is recruitment and the other is in game plan/style.
They made the final 4 last year and obviously to all and sundry the thing holding them back from going further was the halves. The only problem there was that they signed a guy that was far, far fucking worse than what we had. Then instead of jettisoning him they told one of our halves (the best goal kicker in the competition) to go play rugby and have now told the other bloke to go play for the form side of the comp. But I guess at least they will use him as a hooker which is what he is. And we are left with a fullback playing standoff and a halfback who was past it 4 (FOUR!!!) years ago.
Signing Kemp was dumb because he was a goalkicker BUT we already had one that was better, and he was a try scorer, BUT he scored tries on the end of backline moves. We don't do backline moves that put wingers into space, in fact we don't do any moves that put wingers into space. We look for "tryline tries" and bomb to the corner tries. He was blamed for not scoring tries and dropped after a few weeks. Problem was that the pricks picking the side failed to notice that Ken Irvine wouldn't have scored tries with Jones and co running the backline.
Last week in the loss to the Titans Lance Hohaia spent 80 minutes playing a game of touch with himself. Against the Broncos it was much the same. Jones meanwhile played spot the shitty kick (I spotted it quite often), and spot the time when he ran when a pass was on but cos he's so old he tripped over his cane into the tackle.
This week Jones spent 80 minutes safely on the other side of the Tasman because if he'd been within arms reach I'd have throttled him to death. The commentators were going on in the first half about how good he and Hohaia were going in the halves. That's quite funny because I'm pretty sure we had ALL THE FUCKING BALL, ALL THE FUCKING FIELD POSITION and managed to score one barge over try to Price. In the second half we managed an out of the blue try to Price from a bomb where the defender should have been awarded a medal for services to science where he made himself disappear in a wide open space.
Neither try had anything to do whatsoever with any kind of organisation.
And as I've said several times in recent weeks (elsewhere) we are the worst attacking team in the comp. It's not even close.
This season these are our scores from week one until the latest disgrace...
26 (Fien in the halves), 26 (Fien in the halves), 10, 16, 22, 17, 14, 11, 12, 12, 14, 10, 13, 12 and 14.
An unbelievable ten matches where we haven't cracked 20 points. In fact in the last nine games we have't even cracked 15 points!!!!! If we were an earthquake it would be unregistered. In the Broncos game we got two miserable fucking tries against a side that has conceded 48, 44, 46 and 21 points in it's last 4 games all of which it lost. And both our tries were scored by our fucking prop!!!!!
We had two other chances to score. One Mannering butchered when he had three players to pick from to score and he fired it in front of Kemp into touch. If that pass had been on target we were up 14-0 and the game was there for the taking. The second was when Kemp (probably paranoid about the earlier shit pass) over ran Hohaia slightly who fired it hard at him (slightly behind) and he couldn't hang on and he spilled it. before anybody says "well you can't blame Jones for those cockups) let me say this. GO FUCK YOURSELF!!! Jones has created NOTHING!!!. I might be slightly inebriated when I type this but Michael Jackson would be more likely to pose a threat to an opposition defence than Jones. The moves are so telegraphed when he's got the ball they may as well run a flag up that says "go to sleep, nothing here to see".
But just so I'm not a complete negative nelly...
Locke has looked bloody good and I'm that desperate I'd almost try him at halfback for the remainder of the season. Results don't matter, we aren't going to get near the 8 but it would be good to see him with the ball in hand as much as possible. Chuck Moon in at standoff and get him to bomb the fuck out of it (he has a lead foot). Move Hohaia back to fullback and put McKinnon on the bench. It almost seems as though he has stopped caring. Where are the psychotic outbursts? Does he want to move to England to see out his career? The Warriors have a few too many players head that way for my liking. I think McKinnon still has some good football left in him but not running off these sacks of shit we have in our forward pack. Also Lewis Brown is a good tough footballer with a bit of mongrel about him. Ropati looked better on his return. Mannering had his moments but is definately a looseforward not a centre.
And on a final note... the refs are cheating c*nts. There were a couple of horseshit penalties in that game that cost points that were crowd penalties all the way. I hope in the review each week that the refs have them pointed out because it's unacceptable in this day and age.
And right now I've got a few minutes.
Basically they are fucked. They are more likely to win the wooden spoon than make the eight and the writing has been on the wall for quite some time. To get the truth do not listen to the guys on radio sport, or Steve Price, or Ropati, Nikau or McIvor on the tellie. All these guys have a vested interest in talking the side up or are linked with the team even on a cordial level.
To get the truth read what I've got to say or else head on over to the forum at Warriors online.
Essentially the Warriors have fucked up in two key areas. One is recruitment and the other is in game plan/style.
They made the final 4 last year and obviously to all and sundry the thing holding them back from going further was the halves. The only problem there was that they signed a guy that was far, far fucking worse than what we had. Then instead of jettisoning him they told one of our halves (the best goal kicker in the competition) to go play rugby and have now told the other bloke to go play for the form side of the comp. But I guess at least they will use him as a hooker which is what he is. And we are left with a fullback playing standoff and a halfback who was past it 4 (FOUR!!!) years ago.
Signing Kemp was dumb because he was a goalkicker BUT we already had one that was better, and he was a try scorer, BUT he scored tries on the end of backline moves. We don't do backline moves that put wingers into space, in fact we don't do any moves that put wingers into space. We look for "tryline tries" and bomb to the corner tries. He was blamed for not scoring tries and dropped after a few weeks. Problem was that the pricks picking the side failed to notice that Ken Irvine wouldn't have scored tries with Jones and co running the backline.
Last week in the loss to the Titans Lance Hohaia spent 80 minutes playing a game of touch with himself. Against the Broncos it was much the same. Jones meanwhile played spot the shitty kick (I spotted it quite often), and spot the time when he ran when a pass was on but cos he's so old he tripped over his cane into the tackle.
This week Jones spent 80 minutes safely on the other side of the Tasman because if he'd been within arms reach I'd have throttled him to death. The commentators were going on in the first half about how good he and Hohaia were going in the halves. That's quite funny because I'm pretty sure we had ALL THE FUCKING BALL, ALL THE FUCKING FIELD POSITION and managed to score one barge over try to Price. In the second half we managed an out of the blue try to Price from a bomb where the defender should have been awarded a medal for services to science where he made himself disappear in a wide open space.
Neither try had anything to do whatsoever with any kind of organisation.
And as I've said several times in recent weeks (elsewhere) we are the worst attacking team in the comp. It's not even close.
This season these are our scores from week one until the latest disgrace...
26 (Fien in the halves), 26 (Fien in the halves), 10, 16, 22, 17, 14, 11, 12, 12, 14, 10, 13, 12 and 14.
An unbelievable ten matches where we haven't cracked 20 points. In fact in the last nine games we have't even cracked 15 points!!!!! If we were an earthquake it would be unregistered. In the Broncos game we got two miserable fucking tries against a side that has conceded 48, 44, 46 and 21 points in it's last 4 games all of which it lost. And both our tries were scored by our fucking prop!!!!!
We had two other chances to score. One Mannering butchered when he had three players to pick from to score and he fired it in front of Kemp into touch. If that pass had been on target we were up 14-0 and the game was there for the taking. The second was when Kemp (probably paranoid about the earlier shit pass) over ran Hohaia slightly who fired it hard at him (slightly behind) and he couldn't hang on and he spilled it. before anybody says "well you can't blame Jones for those cockups) let me say this. GO FUCK YOURSELF!!! Jones has created NOTHING!!!. I might be slightly inebriated when I type this but Michael Jackson would be more likely to pose a threat to an opposition defence than Jones. The moves are so telegraphed when he's got the ball they may as well run a flag up that says "go to sleep, nothing here to see".
But just so I'm not a complete negative nelly...
Locke has looked bloody good and I'm that desperate I'd almost try him at halfback for the remainder of the season. Results don't matter, we aren't going to get near the 8 but it would be good to see him with the ball in hand as much as possible. Chuck Moon in at standoff and get him to bomb the fuck out of it (he has a lead foot). Move Hohaia back to fullback and put McKinnon on the bench. It almost seems as though he has stopped caring. Where are the psychotic outbursts? Does he want to move to England to see out his career? The Warriors have a few too many players head that way for my liking. I think McKinnon still has some good football left in him but not running off these sacks of shit we have in our forward pack. Also Lewis Brown is a good tough footballer with a bit of mongrel about him. Ropati looked better on his return. Mannering had his moments but is definately a looseforward not a centre.
And on a final note... the refs are cheating c*nts. There were a couple of horseshit penalties in that game that cost points that were crowd penalties all the way. I hope in the review each week that the refs have them pointed out because it's unacceptable in this day and age.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
NRL showtime
After a shithouse week last week I'm hoping to bounce back and reassert my ascendency or some wanky thing like that.
Broncos v Warriors
Broncos by 16
Warriors to play the Broncos back into form. Cleary one step closer to early termination of contract. Can anybody quite believe they've let Fien go early when they have Hohaia (a fullback) and Jones (a has-been) in the halves?
Dragons v Roosters
Dragons by 6
The Roosters will put up a better than expected showing but may be missing a couple of dickheads from their side. The Dragons are looking better and better as the year goes on but still look like a bunch of dorks and will face plant in the semis.
Rabbitohs v Tigers
Rabbitohs by 2
Battle of two woefully out of form sides. I guess one of them can't lose but the question is who? The Rabbitohs showed a little bit of something last week and will need to build on it.
Storm v Knights
Storm by 10
The Storm had an off game (they've crept in this year) and the Knights have been in bad knick and only beat the Bunnies last week so I have to go with the home side bouncing back.
Sharks v Cowboys
Sharks by 6
Could go either way but the Sharks have turned over a new leaf ... although there was that loss to the awesome Roosters last week (eyes bulge).
Raiders v Titans
Raiders by 10
The Raiders are so unpredictable. If they turn up they can beat anybody (at home), but when they don't anybody can knock them over. Too moody for me, but what can you do? I hope they take their happy pills Friday night. And in the NRL they probably will, plus a whole lot of other ones too..... and some booze..... and then meet some ladies..... and then realise those ladies are the Titans.
Panthers v Eels
Panthers by 4
This could go either way. Two very average sides that are temperamental. The Eels are a little more plain though and maybe the Panthers will spark a bit and have some smoked eel for sunday dinner.
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs
Bulldogs by 4
A big Monday night match!! Who knew?!!! The Bulldogs are a better team and playing better footie but the Sea Eagles could definately prove that they are back and a chance to defend their title.
Broncos v Warriors
Broncos by 16
Warriors to play the Broncos back into form. Cleary one step closer to early termination of contract. Can anybody quite believe they've let Fien go early when they have Hohaia (a fullback) and Jones (a has-been) in the halves?
Dragons v Roosters
Dragons by 6
The Roosters will put up a better than expected showing but may be missing a couple of dickheads from their side. The Dragons are looking better and better as the year goes on but still look like a bunch of dorks and will face plant in the semis.
Rabbitohs v Tigers
Rabbitohs by 2
Battle of two woefully out of form sides. I guess one of them can't lose but the question is who? The Rabbitohs showed a little bit of something last week and will need to build on it.
Storm v Knights
Storm by 10
The Storm had an off game (they've crept in this year) and the Knights have been in bad knick and only beat the Bunnies last week so I have to go with the home side bouncing back.
Sharks v Cowboys
Sharks by 6
Could go either way but the Sharks have turned over a new leaf ... although there was that loss to the awesome Roosters last week (eyes bulge).
Raiders v Titans
Raiders by 10
The Raiders are so unpredictable. If they turn up they can beat anybody (at home), but when they don't anybody can knock them over. Too moody for me, but what can you do? I hope they take their happy pills Friday night. And in the NRL they probably will, plus a whole lot of other ones too..... and some booze..... and then meet some ladies..... and then realise those ladies are the Titans.
Panthers v Eels
Panthers by 4
This could go either way. Two very average sides that are temperamental. The Eels are a little more plain though and maybe the Panthers will spark a bit and have some smoked eel for sunday dinner.
Sea Eagles v Bulldogs
Bulldogs by 4
A big Monday night match!! Who knew?!!! The Bulldogs are a better team and playing better footie but the Sea Eagles could definately prove that they are back and a chance to defend their title.
Labels: nrl, nrl tipping, nrl tipping 09
Saturday, June 20, 2009
We Are Fourth - Auckland Tribute
Damn Str-8
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tis the weekend, time for some rockin good fun
Thursday, June 11, 2009
NRL Week 14 or Thereabouts
Warriors v Knights
Warriors by 6
Apparently I have free tickets to this game, though I'm still waiting to find out where the hell I get them from so I'll go for the Warriors (since it's them that are giving them to me).
Broncos v Bulldogs
Broncos by 4
I hear there's more chance of pigs flying than this game taking place at the present moment.
Panthers v Sea Eagles
Panthers by 4
Oh god I hope so. The Sea Eagles are starting to get their game on and what a pity that is. Be good if the Panthers can keep them struggling to enter the 8 for another week or two.
Rabbitohs v Storm
Storm by 18
The Rabbitohs really have lost the plot. Without enthusiasm and confidence they've got nothing and right now they don't have much enthusiasm or confidence so I'll leave it for you to work out.
Roosters v Titans
Titans by 8
Something strange is telling me to tip the Roosters but the Titans are playing with too much energy at the moment and the Roosters are being coached by somebody who appears to be not a very good coach.
Dragons v Cowboys
Dragons by 2
This should be one of the better matches this round. The over rated Dragons v the unpredictable Cowboys. If Thurstons on it's game on. If not the Dragons will stumble over the line.
Raiders v Sharks
Raiders by 14
The Sharks flattered to deceive in the past couple of weeks. The Eels threw it away late and the Warriors threw it away early and yet the Sharks still needed a shitty handling display by an ordinary team to win last week. Raiders will put them to the sword.
Eels v Tigers
Eels by 8
The Eels have a new found confidence and are at home. That said the Tigers are surely due (I said that last week didn't I?) for a win. But I think they are hitting a pretty crap team at a bad time while they themselves are purely having a bad time.
Warriors by 6
Apparently I have free tickets to this game, though I'm still waiting to find out where the hell I get them from so I'll go for the Warriors (since it's them that are giving them to me).
Broncos v Bulldogs
Broncos by 4
I hear there's more chance of pigs flying than this game taking place at the present moment.
Panthers v Sea Eagles
Panthers by 4
Oh god I hope so. The Sea Eagles are starting to get their game on and what a pity that is. Be good if the Panthers can keep them struggling to enter the 8 for another week or two.
Rabbitohs v Storm
Storm by 18
The Rabbitohs really have lost the plot. Without enthusiasm and confidence they've got nothing and right now they don't have much enthusiasm or confidence so I'll leave it for you to work out.
Roosters v Titans
Titans by 8
Something strange is telling me to tip the Roosters but the Titans are playing with too much energy at the moment and the Roosters are being coached by somebody who appears to be not a very good coach.
Dragons v Cowboys
Dragons by 2
This should be one of the better matches this round. The over rated Dragons v the unpredictable Cowboys. If Thurstons on it's game on. If not the Dragons will stumble over the line.
Raiders v Sharks
Raiders by 14
The Sharks flattered to deceive in the past couple of weeks. The Eels threw it away late and the Warriors threw it away early and yet the Sharks still needed a shitty handling display by an ordinary team to win last week. Raiders will put them to the sword.
Eels v Tigers
Eels by 8
The Eels have a new found confidence and are at home. That said the Tigers are surely due (I said that last week didn't I?) for a win. But I think they are hitting a pretty crap team at a bad time while they themselves are purely having a bad time.
Labels: nrl, NRL 2009, nrl swine flu, nrl tipping, nrl tipping 2009, swine flu
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Vote Yes on Child Discipline Referendum
Only a complete dickhead would beat their dog, so why make it legal to beat your kids?
Beating them harder won't make them learn better.
And if a good earflick followed by a roundhouse to the head never did you any harm as a kid, feel free to employ someone much bigger and stronger than you to continue bashing you as an adult.
Beating them harder won't make them learn better.
And if a good earflick followed by a roundhouse to the head never did you any harm as a kid, feel free to employ someone much bigger and stronger than you to continue bashing you as an adult.
Labels: earflick, for the sake of the children, vote yes
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Problems at Mill
The Warriors mill that is.
I won't go into detail about what's wrong as it's pretty fucking obvious. They have no attack whatsoever. OK, I'm exagerrating a bit. Sometimes they can pull out a close range barge over try and sometimes they can chip bomb to Vatuvei and score but that's it. Between the Warriors, Sharks, Roosters and Eels they should be convicted for crimes against their fans and the sport of rugby league.
And here's the statistical proof ... 10, 14, 12, 12, 11, 14, 17, 22, 16, 10, 26, 26. Those are their scores this year starting with the latest and heading back to the start of the year where they came in with a bit of confidence before Cleary got them playing Cleary ball as opposed to Warrior ball.
They are gone for 09. The top 8 has already worked itself out (Dragons, Broncos, Bulldogs, Knights, Cowboys, Storm, Panthers) with one from the Titans and Sea Eagles to take the 8th spot.
The rest will scrap it out to see who can deceive their fans into thinking they can play football and deserve to keep their coaching and playing spot for next season.
I won't go into detail about what's wrong as it's pretty fucking obvious. They have no attack whatsoever. OK, I'm exagerrating a bit. Sometimes they can pull out a close range barge over try and sometimes they can chip bomb to Vatuvei and score but that's it. Between the Warriors, Sharks, Roosters and Eels they should be convicted for crimes against their fans and the sport of rugby league.
And here's the statistical proof ... 10, 14, 12, 12, 11, 14, 17, 22, 16, 10, 26, 26. Those are their scores this year starting with the latest and heading back to the start of the year where they came in with a bit of confidence before Cleary got them playing Cleary ball as opposed to Warrior ball.
They are gone for 09. The top 8 has already worked itself out (Dragons, Broncos, Bulldogs, Knights, Cowboys, Storm, Panthers) with one from the Titans and Sea Eagles to take the 8th spot.
The rest will scrap it out to see who can deceive their fans into thinking they can play football and deserve to keep their coaching and playing spot for next season.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
NRL Week umm.... 13?
Tigers v Panthers
Tigers by 6
Could be a tight one because the Tigers really should have got much closer to the Warriors and Sheens is getting pretty grumpy watching them lose 4 straight. I'm going to pick slightly against form in this one because they'll have to turn things around soon.
Storm v Broncos
Storm by 8
A funny clash to have straight after Origin. It'll be the Queensland team playing itself. I guess that evens things out a bit. Might be a bit tough on the Brisbane boys though who will fly back to Brisbane I presume and then back down to Melbourne a day later. Surely not? Home team to be more organised for the win though.
Sea Eagles v Roosters
Sea Eagles by 22
Gee, this one looks hard to pick.
Cowboys v RabbitohsCowboys by 10
The Rabbitohs are starting to play a bit loose and should suffer for it up in Townsville. Provided Thurston comes out of Origin injury free he has shown he can back up and play great footie. The Rabbitohs ship should start to take on a bit more water this weekend.
Sharks v Warriors
Warriors by 2
This should be a very ordinary game. I have a feeling the Sharks may cut loose a bit (however they will still be the most boring side in the comp), but they are up against a warriors team with a sleep inducing attack themselves who much prefer to grind teams down. It'll come down to who wants it more (or less).
Knights v Eels
Knights by 8
The Knights are a bit of an irresistable force at the moment. They don't quite have the team to bank on week in and week out but Smith has them playing so well as a team that they should knock over his old joint with Hagan at the helm.
Titans v Dragons
Titans by 4
Hmmmmm, dependable Titans v in form Dragons. Somebody's night will end in tears. Hopefully the white booted show ponies.
Tigers by 6
Could be a tight one because the Tigers really should have got much closer to the Warriors and Sheens is getting pretty grumpy watching them lose 4 straight. I'm going to pick slightly against form in this one because they'll have to turn things around soon.
Storm v Broncos
Storm by 8
A funny clash to have straight after Origin. It'll be the Queensland team playing itself. I guess that evens things out a bit. Might be a bit tough on the Brisbane boys though who will fly back to Brisbane I presume and then back down to Melbourne a day later. Surely not? Home team to be more organised for the win though.
Sea Eagles v Roosters
Sea Eagles by 22
Gee, this one looks hard to pick.
Cowboys v RabbitohsCowboys by 10
The Rabbitohs are starting to play a bit loose and should suffer for it up in Townsville. Provided Thurston comes out of Origin injury free he has shown he can back up and play great footie. The Rabbitohs ship should start to take on a bit more water this weekend.
Sharks v Warriors
Warriors by 2
This should be a very ordinary game. I have a feeling the Sharks may cut loose a bit (however they will still be the most boring side in the comp), but they are up against a warriors team with a sleep inducing attack themselves who much prefer to grind teams down. It'll come down to who wants it more (or less).
Knights v Eels
Knights by 8
The Knights are a bit of an irresistable force at the moment. They don't quite have the team to bank on week in and week out but Smith has them playing so well as a team that they should knock over his old joint with Hagan at the helm.
Titans v Dragons
Titans by 4
Hmmmmm, dependable Titans v in form Dragons. Somebody's night will end in tears. Hopefully the white booted show ponies.
Labels: nrl, nrl tipping, nrl tipping 09
