Penalty Bonanza's(2018)

The 2018 season has been dominated by a referee crack down on play-the-balls, markers breaking early and defenders rushing up too quick. These crackdowns happen every year but tend to only last two weeks. However this time around the referees to their credit, have stuck to their guns.

It has drawn the ire of commentators and fans, saying that the mass of penalties in games, many attracting 20, while the Sharks v Storm game tonight saw over 30 blown, is detrimental to the game. So who do they blame? The referees.

While a very very small percentage will be doubtful, the overwhelming majority are correct calls. This is a fault of the players and coaches entirely to refuse to yield to the rules in place that are being heavily policed at present.

The Sharks v Storm game though saw things escalate further. 33 penalties were blown for the game, with two players, the experienced Luke Lewis and Cameron Smith, both spending time in the sin bin. This was an occasion where the referees made mistakes.

It wasn’t on the policing of the game though. It was a reluctance to use the sin bin. This mad obsession of trying to keep the game as 13 on 13 has to end. Because players have shown after 4 weeks that they are prepared to keep giving the penalties away.

So the referees need to be prepared to make games 9 on 10 if need be if it helps to get their message across. Use the bin more frequently until the message sinks in.

And while I’m at it, calls to reinstate the 5 minute sin bin to help with this crack down are foolish. It needs to be ten minute stints. The next time a game looks to be headed in the same ill-disciplined direction as this Sharks v Storm game, but having the match reduced to 10 v 10, teams will soon learn that they need to change their style to be rules-compliant.

Otherwise, we’ll continue seeing 20 and 30 odd penalties being awarded every game, every week.

The Halftime Spray #5 (2014)

2014 is Cronulla's worst start to a season since 1969. Given their performance of the previous two seasons, you can't help but wonder why.

In the past few years they had become a team known for their ruthless aggression in defence above anything else. In 2014 they have lost their teeth and are leaking points far too easily.

Most notably is the immense change in defensive prowess on their right edge, most notably defenders Todd Carney and Blake Ayshford.

At the same time last year, Carney had played the same number of games, all in the same position. The glaring difference is that in 2013 he had missed 8 tackles. In 2014 he has missed 28 tackles.

Carney's poor defence has seen play being directed at him more which has also seen right centre Blake Ayshford make 132 tackles, which is 47 more than Cronulla's right centres made at the same point in time last year.

Ayshford has missed 23 tackles, which is 12 more than Cronulla's right centres after 7 games last year.

Because Ayshford is trying to cover for Carney, he is being isolated in defence and players are running through him, if they haven't already run through Carney. Between these two they have made 57 of Cronulla's 174 missed tackles in 2014 (32.76%).

This is the Sharks' epic weakness. Prior to Carney returning to first grade in Round 3 this year, Ayshford had made 33 tackles and missed just 3. This alone shows that Ayshford's defence has suffered only since Carney returned to the side.

With so much traffic being run at Carney, he's lacking in energy when he gets to attack and this is evident by the fact that the Sharks have scored just 87 points so far this year (the next worst attacking side is Penrith who have scored 109 points).

If the Sharks are to right their ship and start performing to a much higher standard that everyone knows they are capable of, then it's quite clear that Carney needs to be moved in the defensive line, and I believe the best place is closer towards the middle around much stronger defenders. It will provide a number of benefits:

• The right edge weakness in defence will be corrected
• Ayshford's defence will improve
• Attackers will have to run at strong defenders if they want to target Carney
• Carney will be more confident and less tired, helping him and the team when attacking
• Cronulla's defensive line will move more smoothly and effectively.

Carney's other issue is his decisions in defence. The same play can be run at him a few times every game and he will react differently every time, sometimes he'll rush up at the player in front of him, sometimes he'll run at the gap between the player passing the ball and the player he should be marking, sometimes he'll hold off and slide and sometimes he'll be in the defensive line but defending like a cover defender when he shouldn't be.

All of these issues cause his outside defender, Ayshford, to stay back which in turn leave's him flat footed and a target to run at. Because he isn't moving, he is easy to run through.

How Carney went from being capable in defence 12 months ago, to a confused weak defender is anybody's guess, but until he sort's out this issue, Cronulla will continue to languish at the end of the table.

What A Day! (2004)

I awaken, ready to venture to Shark Park for the match between Cronulla and Parramatta. When I get out of the shower I realise its 11am and not 10am. My train is due to depart at 11.27am. I look in the wallet, only $20. I rush to an ATM, and take out $60. I'm set!

I head to the train station and buy my ticket – As I am a student I decided that I come under the 'student' title. I pay my fare and head to the platform. A minute later I'm told there is no train service from Newcastle to Sydney. So I had to go and get a bus instead.

I find a bus and get re-directed to a connecting bus, which was an express. I thought ‘you beauty; this'll save me some time!’

The bus trip was good; I even managed a nap and some reading. When we arrived at Sydney the bus driver said into the microphone, ‘does anyone know how to get to Central Station from here?’ Everyone thought he was joking. Then he informed us he was serious!

The ensuing 80 minutes was spent travelling in circles and some very ordinary driving. At one stage the driver attempted to turn a corner and the side of the bus hit the traffic lights and cracked one of the windows. He reversed up and tried to get around it, hitting the traffic light once again and cracking the same window even more.

He decided to go straight ahead and turn at the next intersection. This ended up in him running up onto a traffic island, hitting a Keep Left sign and denting the drivers’ side of the bus.

We eventually found Central Station ... and drove past it. He finally succumbed and realised that after an hour he needed help. He rang a friend and asked them to come down, find him, then drive their car in front of him, leading us to the depot at Central Station.

The friend couldn't find him.

While we were waiting, the bus was parked in a No Parking area for at least 15 minutes. A Canadian traveller who was asleep the whole time woke up and heard of the story. He found a map and managed to direct the driver to the station.

I got to the football ground easily after that. At Shark Park, some young lady gave me a spare ticket she had. BONUS! I'm into the ground for free!

I met some great people at the game from the various Rugby League forums I frequent. We watched the Sharks pretend to be a competitive rugby league side. For the second time this year, I watched the Sharks play bad football at their home ground. I was not happy.

We all ventured to the leagues club for a few hours where Ron talked about himself and took photos, showed his biceps and took part in some disturbing banter with myself.

I left around 10ish and wandered to Woolooware Station, hoping I remembered how to get there. Some drunken Parramatta fan who spoke the bleeding obvious, found me on the way to the station. By the time I got to the station, the drunken guy had wandered off aimlessly. Another drunken guy told me his thoughts on the Sharks, which were quite stupid as well. I get on the train and on my way home.

Then a ticket inspector arrives. I pull out my ticket, he asks for my student ID. I show him my TAFE card and he says ‘that’s not adequate ID,’ and he showed me what was. I cop a $200 fine for fare evasion. He let me off for having my feet on the seat opposite me, as he said I was very co-operative. (Jeez thanks!).

I got to central, found my bus, and headed home, this time with a bus driver who knew where he was going and how to operate the machine. I finally get home at 1.15am.

I hope now the Sharks fans appreciate what I went through to support them today, and I will continue to support them in the future. GO YOU SHARKS!