Storm loss a mystery
May 1st 2008 08:06
What is it about rugby league, and the NRL, that leaves normally rational people scratching their heads, a gog at what goes on?
Is there an over supply of former players at club and league admin levels who have run through one brick wall too many? Is the collective brain cell count a little low? Or are our Northern brothers and sisters simply thick? Just tell me what it is!
Melbourne Storm’s recent loss of teen sensation - and good bloke to-boot, according to my sources - Izzy Folau simply beggars belief. Or maybe it was the timing and the way things played out that simply left me dumb-founded.
OK, so the man himself - arguably world Rugby League’s hottest new property, fresh from the mother of all debut seasons, including national rep honors, league Rookie of the year gong, and, amazingly the leading scorer title - claims it was the pull of his family and faith that got him back to Brisbane. But surely a truck-load of the folding stuff, and any other demand, preference or wish granted, could’ve kept him at Olympic Park!
I mean, the Storm found him, developed him, promoted him, and finally, at the tender age of 17 gave him a first grade debut. How, then, could they let him slip through their fingers? Known throughout the league since coach Bellamy has been on board for their tenacious defence, where is their administrative tenacity? But when we look at the history, this is not a new problem for the reigning Premiers.
As recently as last year, they lost super centre Matt King to some Northern England hell-hole because of…cash (not the weather, as some might snidely comment). And we don’t have to look that far back to see what happened to Scott Hill, Matty Orford, Brett Kimmorley, and so on.
But then again, what sort of system allows contracted players to negotiate and sign new deals while in the middle, or in this case, the beginning, of a season? Just doesn’t make sense. Unsettles everyone. Look at young Izzy. Turned in a couple of shockers in the first few weeks of the new season, but then, after inking his deal with the Broncos, got back to his best, obviously with a massive weight off his 18 year old shoulders.
Izzy should not be let off here in wondering what he was thinking too, though. After all the Storm did for him, as early as a 15 year old up in Brisbane, where is his loyalty? Where is his pride in the jersey? Where is his desire to have a little space from mum and dad?
Before I die, it would be really nice to know exactly what, the Storm, Izzy, and the NRL were collectively thinking!
Is there an over supply of former players at club and league admin levels who have run through one brick wall too many? Is the collective brain cell count a little low? Or are our Northern brothers and sisters simply thick? Just tell me what it is!
Melbourne Storm’s recent loss of teen sensation - and good bloke to-boot, according to my sources - Izzy Folau simply beggars belief. Or maybe it was the timing and the way things played out that simply left me dumb-founded.
OK, so the man himself - arguably world Rugby League’s hottest new property, fresh from the mother of all debut seasons, including national rep honors, league Rookie of the year gong, and, amazingly the leading scorer title - claims it was the pull of his family and faith that got him back to Brisbane. But surely a truck-load of the folding stuff, and any other demand, preference or wish granted, could’ve kept him at Olympic Park!
I mean, the Storm found him, developed him, promoted him, and finally, at the tender age of 17 gave him a first grade debut. How, then, could they let him slip through their fingers? Known throughout the league since coach Bellamy has been on board for their tenacious defence, where is their administrative tenacity? But when we look at the history, this is not a new problem for the reigning Premiers.
As recently as last year, they lost super centre Matt King to some Northern England hell-hole because of…cash (not the weather, as some might snidely comment). And we don’t have to look that far back to see what happened to Scott Hill, Matty Orford, Brett Kimmorley, and so on.
But then again, what sort of system allows contracted players to negotiate and sign new deals while in the middle, or in this case, the beginning, of a season? Just doesn’t make sense. Unsettles everyone. Look at young Izzy. Turned in a couple of shockers in the first few weeks of the new season, but then, after inking his deal with the Broncos, got back to his best, obviously with a massive weight off his 18 year old shoulders.
Izzy should not be let off here in wondering what he was thinking too, though. After all the Storm did for him, as early as a 15 year old up in Brisbane, where is his loyalty? Where is his pride in the jersey? Where is his desire to have a little space from mum and dad?
Before I die, it would be really nice to know exactly what, the Storm, Izzy, and the NRL were collectively thinking!
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