Match Review Farce As Woods Cleared Of Spear Tackle (2017)

On Saturday night, Australia defeated a spirited Lebanon outfit 34-0 in a match which saw Aaron Woods put on report for a copybook spear tackle. Today it was revealed that the Canterbury-bound prop has escaped any suspension.

Many people agreed that it didn’t warrant a suspension; but the simple fact is, it most definitely did.

There has been a horrible trend over years gone by, which sadly hasn’t changed in the wake of the tackle that ended Alex McKinnon’s career, whereby a player’s suspension is overwhelmingly defined by the severity of injury caused, or whether an act was intentional or accidental.

Firstly, there’s genuinely only one person who knows if an act was intentional or accidental – and that is the person who committed the act. And they will always say it was an accident, knowing the penalty is smaller.

Secondly and most importantly, the laws are in place not for the sake of it, but for the safety of the players. Laws come with punishments that are designed to act as deterrents, so that players don’t consider breaking the laws.

Some accidents are clearly that, undoubtedly. But it is hard to accidentally lift someone off the ground, turn them around and have them land head first. There is a reason spear tackles were so heavily punished throughout the 1990s and 2000s: because they can do immense damage in a few short seconds and ruin not just a player’s career, but their quality of life as well.

Some of the arguments supporting the decision not to suspend Woods were along the lines of:
 

-“He was let down gently”
-“It was an accident”
-“No one got hurt”

The problem with all of these excuses is that if something did go wrong, the player on the receiving end of the tackle can suffer horribly.

And then everyone would be demanding long suspensions. But by then it’s too late.

Using the argument of, “It would’ve been legal in….” is stupidly irrelevant. Citing the lax laws of the past is not the basis of a sound argument.

Peddling the tired line, “The game is getting soft” is even more absurd. Protecting a player’s welfare should always be the priority. People used that argument when the shoulder charge was banned. But the tragic death of Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles player James Ackerman proved that the ban was justified.

The game cannot be seen to be suspending players based on injury severity or intent. They should be judging on whether an act outside the rules has occurred. If yes, then dish out a suspension. If no, then no suspension.

Accidents happen in every game. Many have zero impact, some have devastating impact. The laws of the game, like everywhere in life, are in place to minimise the devastating ones. There are always things we could have done differently to avoid accidents, hence why they also deserve to be punished if they lead to an illegal act. Improving a player’s decision-making process and technique ensures a safer, cleaner, yet still tough game for all involved.

Woods clearly put his hand between Mannah’s legs and was trying to lift him. The rest is elementary: Mannah was lifted, went past the horizontal, then head first towards the ground.

 
It was a classic spear tackle and should warrant a suspension every day of the week, no matter where you are in the world or what team’s jumper you are wearing.

****This article appeared on Commentary Box Sports website on November 13, 2017****

Where Does The Melbourne Storm Dynasty Rank? (2017)

The Melbourne Storm’s emphatic 34-6 victory over the determined North Queensland Cowboys in the 2017 NRL grand final brought an end to the tenure of one of the greatest playmaking trios at club level, with Cooper Cronk leaving the club and long-term teammates Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.

So how does this Melbourne Storm dynasty compare to those of the past?

As far as longevity is concerned, the current Storm side began their dynasty in 2003 – when Craig Bellamy took over as coach, and Slater and Smith embarked on their rookie campaigns – making this their 15th season. Only two others have lasted longer: Brisbane’s 18 years from 1992-2009 and the phenomenal St George run of 23 straight seasons in finals football from 1951-1973.

No side comes close to the Dragons’ dynasty for most premierships won, as they collected 11 consecutive titles from 1956-66. The Souths side of 1923-35 scored seven titles, Balmain’s 1914-24 outfit bagged six premierships, as did the Broncos.

Melbourne rank much further down the dynasty list if you count their two titles stripped (2007 and ’09) for salary cap breaches, and rank equal second-last if you only consider the official titles won – their 2012 and ’17 premierships.

That St George side also appeared in the most deciders, with 14 grand final appearances in their 23-year run. The Souths side mentioned above played in 10 premiership finals, while the Roosters of 1930-42 played in nine. These are the only sides to played more deciders than this Storm outfit, who have been in seven, equal with three other dynasties.

The Dragons also claimed 12 minor premierships. The Storm are second, tied with the Balmain 1914-24 dynasty with six. The Storm have also only missed the finals once in the past 15 seasons – in 2010, when the NRL ruled the club would not be awarded competition points.

Then comes arguably the most important factor, win percentage. There have been 19 dynasties since 1908 to have had a run of at least nine seasons, winning at least one premiership and were victorious in at least 60 percent of all games played (regular season, play-offs and finals). These sides have won 75 of the 111 titles won since 1908.

Souths (1923-35) – 74.02%
St.George (1951-73) – 72.39%
Souths (1908-18) – 71.52%
Balmain (1914-24) – 70.07%
Souths (1949-57) – 69.78%
Melbourne (2003-17) – 68.10%
Easts (1930-42) – 68.02%
Manly (1966-78) – 67.63%
Manly (1990-98) – 67.13%
Souths (1965-74) – 66.67%
Parramatta (1975-86) – 66.24%
Canberra (1987-98) – 65.65%
Sydney City (1996-2004) – 63.90%
Balmain (1939-50) – 63.64%
Brisbane (1992-2009) – 63.56%
Easts (1972-83) – 63.27%
Manly (1980-88) – 62.56%
Manly (2005-14) – 61.98%
Newcastle (1995-2003) – 61.47%

During the salary cap era, this Melbourne side has clearly been the most dominant dynasty, playing in more grand finals, winning the second-most number of grand finals, claiming the most minor premierships, having the highest win percentage in finals football, and in total.

The figures show that this Storm side is the best dynasty the game has seen since the legendary St George Dragons’ incomparable era. And while many will argue otherwise – mostly those still holding strong indignation against the club for its salary cap rorting almost a decade ago – the figures don’t lie.

 
We have just been witness to the closest thing to (albeit it was a long way away from) the Dragons’ dynasty of the 1950s, ’60s and early ’70s. Perhaps it’s time to sit back and realise that it took half a century for any team to get close to that side and give the Melbourne Storm the respect and gratitude for their achievements the club deserves.

****This article appeared on Commentary Box Sports website on October 3, 2017****

Tough 'Tooves' Can Cure NSW's Blues (2017)

Last Sunday, Fox Sports Lara Pitt spoke directly to Phil Gould amidst rumours and speculation that he could be stepping in, as part of a unique trio with Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns, to coach the New South Wales Origin side in 2018.

The most honest and correct statement he made regarding Laurie Daley’s sacking was, “Laurie’s not a professional coach. This is not what he does for a living.”

And that right there hits at 50 percent of the Blues’ issues. He isn’t a professional coach. That is exactly what NSW needs.

This is exactly the same issue that Fittler and Johns have. They may do some assistant coaching on the side – and ‘Freddy’ did coach the Roosters with mixed results a decade ago – but they aren’t full-time professional coaches of football teams.

Fittler and Johns are also very similar to Daley in another aspect. They were all magnificent players, undoubtedly the best of their generation in the world. But they are all laidback characters.

With stories emerging such as Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson having some drinks before engaging in some less-than-professional interior designing of a hotel room prior to Origin II, coupled with the duo’s pub session and Andrew Fifita reportedly forcing Daley to backflip on his decision to have him start from the bench prior to the decider shows that the players did not respect Daley enough.

It’s not because they didn’t think he deserved it. It’s because Daley, like Fittler and Johns, comes across as one of the boys. There’s nothing wrong with that in some team environments. But it clearly doesn’t work for the Blues.

However, there is one coach who oozes passion and professionalism, is a full-time coach, played plenty of Origin footy and is looking for a gig.

Geoff Toovey.

Why hasn’t ‘Tooves’ been put forward as a candidate? The intense Manly club legend and former coach spent 2017 coaching the financial basketcase that is the Bradford Bulls, whose relegation to the third-tier competition would render Toovey too expensive to stay on. He wants to be back in Sydney and ideally at an NRL club.

But while he is yet to be picked up by any club, why not line him up to coach the Blues? 

Furthermore, let him have full control of the side. He doesn’t need helpers like Daley did.

The decision to move Bob Fulton on for this series in favour of Peter Sterling would make the role more enticing for Toovey.

Toovey has bled for the Blues. He demands respect from his players and he is a smart tactician. He has all the qualities required to be an Origin coach.

 
And he will provide them a huge injection of the one thing they need the most: passion.

****This article appeared on Commentary Box Sports website on September 1, 2017****