The role of being a match official in any sport is mostly a thankless task. When weighed on the “fair go” scales, the balance of public appreciation tips heavily towards “abused” rather than “valued”. These whistle-blowing athletes must truly love…
From The Stands – May 15, 2023: Blurred Lines
There is nothing blurred about the form of the Eels. The 2023 season has been a step backwards for a team that has seemingly forgotten how to win. I loved Parra’s ride to the Grand final last year. The four…
From The Stands – July 12, 2022: Watching Poor Officiating From The Expensive Leichhardt Hill
It will be really exciting to venture back home this week. Our crazy draw has made the season somewhat challenging to get enthused about. I am no fan of the NRL headquarters but I can also imagine the difficulties that…
Bumpers Up – September 21, 2021: Finals Fallout
What a match! I can’t recall too many finals to compare with the intensity and standard of what the Eels and Panthers provided for eighty exciting minutes. Similarly, I can’t recall many clashes during the NRL era where a…
From The Stands – August 30, 2021: A Dramatic Weekend
What an eventful weekend. The headlines from the Friday night “circus” were unrelenting, so much so that they overshadowed what was arguably the upset result of the season. More on that later. First we have to dig into that upset…
Bumpers Up – March 20, 2021: Eels Winning, Officials Sinning
There’s an old saying about a week being a long time in rugby league. People refer to that hackneyed phrase because so much can change in that time, and it often does. Then again some things don’t change – like…
From The Stands – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo! The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly was a famous spaghetti western. In the Eels latest battle in the west, we had a dash of good, bad and ugly. This is how I saw…
From The Stands – Integrity and Other Musings
Match Officials Before launching into the following criticism of referees, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s often a thankless task. Without match officials there would be no game. They should be respected and, in the case of young referees in…
Referees’ Tip Sheet – A “Parrady” (Updated 2018 Edition)
Zero wins, the worst penalty differential in the NRL, and Parra sit anchored to the bottom of the table. Is that the referees fault? No. Far from it. To believe that would be to foolishly ignore the Eels poor football…
A Play The Ball Crackdown Is Coming – Let’s Find A Long Term Solution
Beware NRL supporters! The annual crackdown on play the ball infringements is about to cast its ugly shadow over the opening rounds of the NRL Premiership. Instead of marvelling at the skills, the collisions and the breathtaking moments that define…