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FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTY, WEEK 3 ADDED SUNDAY 06/07/2008 I didn't even give the weather a thought as I headed for Nudgee yesterday morning to take in some QJRU State Titles action. This is a great tournament, and a big tournament that draws kids into the representative area from club ranks. This is my number one supported tournament representative wise, as it opens up the code to so many more participants than the very narrow based school competition. The schools can bleat on all they want about their elite competition structures, the reality is, most people cannot afford, maybe do not want to afford what they purport to have on offer. You hear so much, particularly in Qld, about how you must attend this school or that school to make it in rugby. Unfortunately, it is partially true at this stage of rugby's development at the pointy end. So for mine, it is always good to see these 1000 plus boys playing at this carnival, from all over the state, and this year Papua New Guinea, and out of all age groups, not just two selected age groups as happens in the schools representative competitions. Bear in mind that this is where I first ran across players like, Quade Cooper playing for Brisbane North, Broncos contracted Willie Tupou at Brisbane South, Jake Schatz, Joe Tomane and Bonie Falefitu playing for an awesome Brisbane West in 2004, in Under 14. Joe Tomane, now playing first grade for the Melbourne Storm, was probably the most imposing figure of that entire 2004 carnival, big, powerful and fast. I did run into Willie Tupou there yesterday, watching relatives playing. Gee he looks good, big, tall and imposing, but still a nice kid. Had a brief chat to him and he is very happy with the work he is doing at the Broncos on and off the field. My interest naturally was with the Darling Downs teams, and from what I had heard, they had been performing very well. Results tables showed a little differently, but my viewing of the four games I saw yesterday, indicated they were playing very well. The Under 13's and Under 14's had easy wins against lesser opposition, and the 15's, in heavier rain, knocked over competition leaders Brisbane West by 3 to nil. That's a tough ask any time, but weather is something to be dealt with, and Macalister Gee controlled this game nicely from 10, playing a classic flyhalf wet weather game. The 16's got knocked over by a big powerful Brisbane North outfit, in a fighting display, 15 to 5. They just didn't grasp the concept of wet weather footy really well at all until later in the game, and did not respond well to the urgency shown by their Brisbane opponents when the North side got into the Downs red zone. I had a chat to a couple of the key Under 16 guys over lunch, and told them how I would play West, their next game, not sure if it helped, but I note they won, another 3 to nil victory. I was actually salivating at the prospect of coaching in this weather, finally having some assistance from the elements, and with some smart play, having the ability to frustrate these bigger players from Brisbane. For mine it becomes a game where you really want to dominate field position, but only have about 10% possession, let them play, let them make mistakes, get them frustrated. The day of a good scrum, a really good 6, 7 and 8, and a good 9 and 10. The 16's certainly had a good 7, in Ellis Jensen, this guy, as I have said before is tough, and confrontational, and has a big workrate. If we believed the school's mantra, we would not have seen Ellis, as he is one of those that attends a non rugby playing school, but probably plays the game as well as any back rower at any "rugby playing school". Joe Barrett was also playing exceptionally well, and has improved his football, and his mental outlook 200% over the last two years. Ryan Leeson was also having a great game, his lineout work was strong and dominant, really disrupted his opposition throws and won most of his own in good fashion. As the rain got heavier, and I chewed through the clothes, I decided to forgo the afternoon programme and head home. I note from the results that the Downs boys delivered good results in the afternoon programme. I must say that the KooGa track pants I was wearing, are probably the most waterproof item of clothing I have ever worn. Never even felt cold inside them. I do have a request for my good friends at KooGa though. We have KooGa made for rugby, KooGa made for League, KooGa made for touch. I am looking forward to KooGa made for men with short legs! No photos this year from me personally, too much rain, but I am sure the good folks from sportography have done a great job, in the wet.
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WE DON'T STOP PLAYING BECAUSE WE GROW OLD, WE GROW OLD BECAUSE WE STOP PLAYING. |
