Will we do a dullbogs in 2011?

[Guest]

Thanks. I'm not quite over the disappointment yet but I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

Do you think referees can sometimes allow their personal likes or dislikes for certain teams get in the way of their performance? I ask that in light of your last statement.

All the best to you and yours matey.

I hear you, I'm still shaking with rage over the Idris no try against Saints in 2009. So, to lose a GF in that manner would have had me in an unspeakable state. The way I see it, sometimes carrying anger is a good thing it means you don't lower your expectations so I wouldn't try too hard about reconciling that game. It was an utter debacle of proportions only the NRL can manufacture.

As I know one of the refs involved, well, I'm sure that there was no conspiracy or bias. The NRL is too incompetent to be able to orchestrate anything like that. Things just got away from them, in fact, if he did show any bias it would not have worked out the way it did.

I have another theory, in that all the video support and the 2 on field refs have actually had a negative impact on the refs abilities. Especially, their instincts and their feel for the game. They are too dependent on the technology and they have become disengaged from the game as a result.

Harrigan, on the other hand, is a destructive influence and unfortunately he will have an even greater impact on the game. I feel that he more than Archer or Hayne ruined that GF, it has been coming for a season or two and was further emphasised in the 4 Nations.

All the best to you and yours as well !!

[Kingbilly]

Harrigan, on the other hand, is a destructive influence and unfortunately he will have an even greater impact on the game.

This I think is a very important point and one that worries me a great deal.
He was very much a "let the game flow" referee and thats OK if its an equal opportunity scenario, but it always worked out under him that one team gained dominance and got away with murder.

[Guest]

I hear you, I'm still shaking with rage over the Idris no try against Saints in 2009. So, to lose a GF in that manner would have had me in an unspeakable state. The way I see it, sometimes carrying anger is a good thing it means you don't lower your expectations so I wouldn't try too hard about reconciling that game. It was an utter debacle of proportions only the NRL can manufacture.

That Dogs v Dragons game was another Saints rort. Dead set how many have there been?

The NRL is too incompetent to be able to orchestrate anything like that.

Spot on

I have another theory, in that all the video support and the 2 on field refs have actually had a negative impact on the refs abilities. Especially, their instincts and their feel for the game. They are too dependent on the technology and they have become disengaged from the game as a result.

Correct again

Harrigan, on the other hand, is a destructive influence and unfortunately he will have an even greater impact on the game. I feel that he more than Archer or Hayne ruined that GF, it has been coming for a season or two and was further emphasised in the 4 Nations.

and again :P

[stephenj]

harrigan is a show pony who must have centre stage, if he hasnt he manufactures it?

[Guest]

This I think is a very important point and one that worries me a great deal.
He was very much a "let the game flow" referee and thats OK if its an equal opportunity scenario, but it always worked out under him that one team gained dominance and got away with murder.

That's the point, he changed from refereeing the rules to referring the interpretation of the rule. As a result, we have 8 games each weekend playing under 8 different sets of rules. More when you get some of the Mack and Myer combinations of refs.

Let the game flow means that one team is getting an advantage through an interpretation rather than the rule itself. Of course, it's going to work in favour of one and make it very difficult for the other team to get back into a game when the opposition is playing under a different set of rules.

For me 2005 is a classic example whereby the Tigers basically worked their way up field with 4 or 5, traditionally, voluntary tackles. Is it a surprise that the GF was played between 2 of the smallest packs in the comp and teams like ours with big forwards were just swept aside?

Aaaargghhh ... I hate it. I used to love the attrition of rugby league, if I wanted to watch a bunch of guys sprinting around a field passing objects I would go to Sydney Athletic field and watch the relay races. It's just bubble gum footy now, designed to appeal to people who don't love the game in the first place.

[TheLoneRooster]

As usual, you make a tonne of sense Imadog.
adamkungl was right about the CBBs vs merge scum stain game in 2009 being another merge scum stain benefit with the biting milkman winning an Oscar for his performance. In answer to how many there've been I don't know but it will be interesting to see how many more there'll be in the future given that the merge scum stain have finally "won a GF" albeit a Clayton's one that will forever have an asterisk against it in the record books.

[Guest]

Pearce is 21 FFS!! name me another halfback at this level at this age.

He gets better every year and really started to show maturity this year.

There is some truth to the underated tag in that everyone talks about how he doesn't live up to unrealistic expectations and is therefore average. If you think he is average then you are underating him.

I think he is solid enough but I don't think he is anywhere near as good as Gould and co' talk him up to be.

Whilst having support from some of the more knowledgeable and respected commentators in league he'll largely be underrated imo. Brett Finch & Brett Kimmorley were two players who I thought went through their players largely underrated because they were organisers not creative halves.

I've already read crap about how he doesn't set up enough tries and goes missing in the big games.

He was largely overrated when he first entered the scene but I don't think that anymore.

I thought Finch was grossly overrated, especially at Parra.

He does go missing in the larger games to a certain extent but hell do better with age. He isn't naturally gifted like some of the other halfs in the competition but he has got consistency and organisation skills. Take Mullen for example, he is probably one of the most naturally talented halfs in the competition but he does not have consistency like Pearce, he can't produce it weekly.

I remember Johns playing origin as a bench hooker whilst Kimmorley was halfback.

Yes that is true but he was named on the bench mainly due to the fact he could play Hooker really well and had more impact to the match to what Kimmorley could of had. Comparing Johns and Noddy is rather laughable.