Play On - by llaw

How much do we love the Friday Night football games!
The NRL and Channel 9 have got it right!
The competition format focuses on the fans and it's working wonders.
Games are exciting, we're looking forward to the weekend.
Four days of footy! More than half a week dedicated to footy! Can't beat that...
Actually we can, the Roosters are coming last!

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Posted By: llaw - Category: Rugby League

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The 2006 NRL Season Awards

September 5th 2006 13:07

It's the night of nights, the night where all of the Rugby League family gather together to honour the best of the best, the magnificent plays, the brilliant players, and the breath-taking, stop-what-you're-doing moments! I'm obviously talking about the Dally M's

... and that's what you would've heard had Channel 9 broadcast the award's night. Now I will acknowledge the official winners:

Dally M winner: Cameron Smith (Melbourne - 34 votes), edging out Parramatta's Nathan Hindmarsh (30 votes) and Manly Skipper Ben Kennedy (25 votes).

Provan Summon's medal (for people's choice): Nathan Hindmarsh

Rookie of the year (no surprises there): Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta)

and Rep player of the year: Darren Lockyer (Brisbane)

And another honour for the Melbournians (if they actually noticed): Coach of the Year went to Craig Bellemy.

But we will pay tribute to the lesser, more comical incidences that deserve a mention:

The "You're not really wanted, but have a contract anyways" award goes to:
Brett Finch (Roosters) with a very close second by Michael Monaghan (Manly). Both players were not shown much respect at the end of last year by their respective teams, but both Finch and Monaghan have not shyed away and have pulled some outstanding performances through the year... but probably to no avail, with Finch going to Parra next year and Monaghan more than likely being released.

The "What we're running late? I didn't hear the siren" award:
Despite AFL having major problems this year when the umpires didn't hear the siren to end the game, we had a slightly similar - but probably not as drastic problem. This time Sean Hampstead, extended his half time break by two minutes or so. Players had already run onto the field and were waiting for him and his touchies to make their appearance!

The "screw you, I'm not giving another interview with a damn cliche" award:
I don't know about you, but it's quite irritating to hear a tape recording of every possibly cliche when players are interviewed post-match. That is why, this special award goes to Brett Finch, for giving an honest opinion when he told a section of Rooster's fans (through a Fox Sports interview) to "kiss our arse" after the Roosters Upset the Cowboys in Week 9

The "sorry mate, I didn't mean to - pull down your pants!" award goes to:
Brian Carney from Newcastle, with the help of Ryan Cross (Roosters). If you watch the footy show, you would have seen multiple replays of this incident. Carney coming in cover defence to prevent a try - in the game at the Central Coast (round 22) - managed to leave Cross a little red faced when his tackle saw his under garments a little torn and exposed!

Now, we've got to give another award to Brett Finch. The "Steven Bradbury all fall down, while I'm still on my feet" award.
When NSW selectors rang Brett Finch the night before Origin to tell him he was half back, it didn't seem the ideal preparation. But Finch made a name for himself, setting up tries, scoring tries and kicking the winning field goal to see NSW win the first state of origin this year!

I will note that referee Tony De La Haras was a very close second. When Paul Simpkins could not finish a game, De La Haras, who refereed Jersey Flegg stepped up and took control. Why do we give him a special mention? Because, he was called up into First Grade twice! Both at Energy Australia Stadium. The other time however was when a touch judge went down.

We will continue to hunt for more awards and hand them out later this week. And any special nominations will be more than welcome...

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Posted By: llaw - Category: Rugby League

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The 2006 NRL Season Proper (Part 1)

September 4th 2006 12:17

We can't doubt this is the most exciting time of the year! More so the fact the Roosters aren't in the finals - again! I'm sorry, I really don't mean that...

But yes, twenty-six weeks of competition seems to have (as the cliche goes) flown by. But instead of looking into the finals, let's use this week to savour what made the 2006 season proper (in no particular order):

Parra, lucky to be there?
We can say that Jason Taylor was the Parra's saviour - and perhaps rightly so, but let's think mathematically for a sec. had the New Zealand Warriors not been deducted points for salary cap breaches, Parramatta may just not have been in the finals... So Parra fans might want to add David Gallop and the NRL board to their Christmas list - and let's not forget the auditors that busted the Warriors!

Coaches, coaches and coaches - would anyone be one? Is it now harder to be a coach than a referee?
Two well respected coaches have departed (Brian Smith and Ricky Stuart) and before round one, we knew of changes in the ranks for next year (Mic Hagan, Matthew Elliot, Johnny Lang). And on refereeing, can we say any more about the video referee that hasn't already been said?

You wouldn't think with the hype around drug testing, players would even consider to use them
Somehow recreational drugs managed a headline this year, with Mitchell Sargent having his contract torn up

Once a (grand) finalist, not always a finalist
Both of last year's grandfinalists are not in the finals series

Origin politics
New South Wales winning the first State of Origin game by one point meant that the Queensland forwards were weak ??? And from that, did we ever find out who "decorated" Wally's statue before the second game? I'm not into conspiracy theories, but it did spark an emergence by the Queensland side...

Melbourne showed up to a football game besides AFL ???
Yes, we're not sure how this happened...

Oh Souths...
South Sydney won THREE games - what is the Gladiator thinking now?

Play On - by llaw

Rugby League - Play On

Can't get enough of football!

The 2006 NRL Season Awards

The 2006 NRL Season Proper (Part 1)

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