I grew up in Dunedin. We didn’t really have exposure to Rugby League, apart from the odd Australian game on the telly. My brother reckons that I thought ‘dummy half’ was an actual player. It seemed like an odd game- no lineouts, all that kicking. But over the years that all changed- particularly through the Kiwi teams of the 1980s and early 90s. The Tamatis, Mark Graham, James Leuluai, Clayton Friend, the list goes on.
However international rugby league has been through some strange times since then. Something about the structure of the game means it is the poor relation to club play, right across the world. Sometimes watching the Kiwis in the early years of this decade you had to wonder if they were that into it. It felt like the selectors were scanning Sydney nightclubs for big guys who’s grandmothers once considered a trip to New Zealand to offer them a spot in the team. There have been internal squabbles and massive barnies between countries. At times it looked like the whole thing might fall over.
It feels a bit better lately. In terms of the Kiwis Stephen Kearney looks like he is instilling some pride and unity in the team. It helps that we won the World Cup of course. In terms of competitions, we now have yet another format for international league. Kicking off in the UK this weekend is the four nations, with us, Australia, England and France. It feels like it should be us and the Aussies in the final. A good guide to form will be this Sunday morning at 8am when we meet the Kangaroos in pool play ( if you can call it pool play with four teams). When you scan the team lists the Aussies look like they should be all over us, and they were last time we met. But the memory of that World Cup win is not too far away.
So, get yourself some brekkie tomorrow morning, look out for your expat friends in the stands in London, and cheers on the lads, including that dummy-half fella, he’s everywhere man.
Bluey McLennan had a great scheme – he gave all the players the sheets they were to be assessed on, right down to how they protected the ball in a hit up, how they competed in a defensive tackle, and so on. There were about 100 aspects of the game on every sheet.
After the game, the players would have to watch the game and assess themselves on every aspect on the sheet. So they learnt where their skills were lacking, and what they could do to improve their game, and more importantly, were motivated to do that. That is the Kiwi Team won the Tri-Nations, and Stacey Jones called it the best environment he’d been in.
good call Grant .. nice to have a positive read.
League has always, or nearly always, been run in a Micky Mouse way with too much in fighting. I believe Union maybe suffering a little of this at the moment. his years NPC has been great .. just saw the Bucket Heads thrash Harbour and guess what team is likely to go down?
Anyway .. go the 3rd favourite Kiwi’s, tomorrows game will be tough BUT League is a tough game (too hard for me) but the main thing is the final.
And yes, Bluey is doing great things at Leeds