Written Saturday 20/06/2009

FROM MY SEAT OF KNOWLEDGE,  CHAPTER 3.

THE AUSSIE RUGBY CONUNDRUM

I have some bits and pieces to comment on,  but the first thing is the mess at the Reds.  From where I sit,  the wrong people have gone,  and from a business perspective,  I know who would have gone if I were the one doing the chopping.  Sad as it is,  I would put 10 grand on them being last next year and 100 times that amount on them being lower than 10th.  I doubt they will even be worth watching most weeks and there are a few potential blockbusters in Queensland next year,  NSW,  Auckland and the Crusaders.  The other games they will be able to play at Gold Park in Toowoomba,  capacity about 3000.

We can blame it all on Generation Y,  or rebuilding or whatever we want,  fact is it seems we have the wrong player base playing the wrong style of footy,  and zero tough guys that want to give up blood for the jersey,  couple of pretenders,  but zero tough guys.

Examine the Gen Y thing if you will,  same aged guys playing in New Zealand,  France,  South Africa,  are they not?  I don't accept that at all.

Personally I will never understand why Qld did not sign O'Connor and  To'omua out of school.  There is two young guys that can play,  but for some reason we thought we didn't need them.  When we look at who else we have let get away,  aside from guys like McMeniman heading Overseas for big money,  there are some great Queenslanders playing elsewhere,  Chisholm,  Fairbanks,  To'omua,  O'Connor,  Tuqiri,  Mowen,  McIsaac,  Moore (he is one I would have let go,  I am not his biggest fan),  Sharpe,  Mitchell,  Richard Brown,  Tom Hockings,  Mitch Chapman,  and there have been other journeymen that may have been on offer.  I am sure that there are reasons that I don't know about for these guys moving on,  or not even starting here (Tuqiri) but some pretty fair footballers there.  Given that our props don't look like props,  were we involved with discussion on Matt Dunning?

The Under 20's showed us in that semi final that there is not much depth there either,  the old reliance on the elite few school system rather than spreading the net wider.  Now the money has run out,  it will be even harder to sign or support anyone.

If I were Berrick Barnes,  the Cottesloe beaches would beckon,  very nice over there,  and an enticing backline to play in as well,  especially if Pretorious signs for the Force.  In fact I reckon I am more likely to save up all my hard earned and do one trip to Perth and watch one game over there,  and catch zero Reds games.  Long year coming in 2010 people,  longer and uglier than 2009.

The young blokes go around this next week in the Qld Schools trials,  lots of predictions on that very famous website,  sportal.  Folks I understand I have been getting a bath there,  which is fine,  I never go there,  and I write what I like,  when I like,  about whatever I like,  shame I called the site 15manrugby,  as there is alot of stuff I would like to write that falls way outside the realms of rugby,  and as someone said to me the other day,  you should write your memoirs,  might not sell too many,  but sh*t it would be funny,  he had just read something I wrote up on one of our nights out,  which for memorable occasions I do committ to paper.  If I ever decide to give anyone a bath though,  lookout!!  I understand it is not too hard to figure out who people are there,  but anyway,  thanks for the publicity,  good or bad,  my page views for very limited and very poor effort this year are through the roof,  have hardly even put a photo up.  You gotta love that!

I haven't even had time to peruse the AIC and CSS teams,  but understand there are a couple of second rowers in the AIC sides that go OK.  Plenty of predictions that GPS 1 will translate into Qld 1,  boys and girls,  it never works like that.  There are a few to watch in the CSS side too,  namely Dion Taumata at 10 in the 1's and I think Nash at halfback.  There will be more but they are the names I am hearing now.  Very much looking forward to Dion going around,  gifted footballer,  nice and tough, and is a footballer,  not an athlete that the powers that be are trying to make a footballer.

Of course a few 15manrugby favourites in there as well,  Ted Postal,  like him because he is tough,  Curtis Browning joins him in the second row,  and what an experience it will be for Curtis locking down with the cool, level headed,  tough as old boot leather Postal.  That is an awesome locking pairing and could well go to the next level.  Jordie and Liam Gill at 6 and 7,  again they are tough,  skilful too,   I wouldn't like to get caught in a bad position at the breakdown,  Gilly has the best cleanout and most aggressive in the age group,  and possesses ruthlessness.  And of course,   Chris Sautia on the wing,  hope he gets plenty of pill and that he gets to put the afterburners into action on Thursday and/or Friday nights.

I am not into predictions,  and when I am I am usually wrong,  just looking forward to a sub 5 degrees Thursday and Friday evenings at Ballymore,  yes I like the cold,  it keeps the snakes away.  As well as thinking GPs one looks strong,  also always hope that the whole grouping is competitive,  because it is more people able to play at a level that feeds into Qld and Australia being strong.