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Indigenous players mature late but play on much later
Justin Hodges taking the ball up for the Indigenous All Stars against the NRL All Stars in February this year. Tony Currie ask the question: Is there a better centre or player in the NRL at the moment in front of Justin Hodges? Image: Rhonda Hagan
by Tony Currie he CEO of the Australian Rugby League Commission, David Smith, has certainly let everyone know that he is here to fulfil his roles and duties in propelling the NRL to the top of the tree in Aussie sport. He recently announced a new management structure with fresh faces appearing and old heads moving on. Smith has shown he is in control and is prepared to wait and make the correct decisions. There were many critics, mainly media, complaining David Smith was not communicating and in some instances the criticism was
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downright rude. Let’s face it. Here is a man who comes from Wales, has a banking background and does not know the culture of Rugby League. What he has done is bunker down and take stock of the business he has been given control. I reckon he has rapidly worked out who he can trust and those who have agendas. We must be aware of the fact that Smith is in control of the whole of game. He is not there just for the Chief Executives of NRL Clubs and Media. I feel 99% of the people in positions of power in Rugby League only have eyes for the
NRL. I know he has been guilty of not knowing NRL players’ names but seriously, is it really his job to know every player. I bet this is not written into his job description. Give him time and as he himself says: “Judge me on my performance after 12 months”. At this early stage, I am a fan but remember David, whole of game! Is there a better centre or player in the NRL at the moment in front of Justin Hodges? I think not and his value to the Broncos is so immense that many believe Brisbane cannot figure in the finals without him. Page 1
It is a lot of pressure for him but he has matured significantly over the last couple of years. His performances in all levels of the game have been top of the tree and I bet this coincides with his stable off-field life. We have seen him grow up before our very eyes from an impetuous colt full of bravado to a mature strong stallion topped with the experience garnered from errors and mistakes made throughout his football journey. Hodges has got it and now it is all a matter of how long he can play. Barring injury, I think he can choose when to bow out. He is a once in a generation player and I believe he can play into his mid-30s if he so chooses. This reinforces my theory that Indigenous players mature late but play on late. Do I need to remind you of Lyons, Ferguson, Blacklock, Peachey and Widders? What about that Manly v Souths game at Brookvale last Friday
night? Brutal is a word that comes to mind. I was so impressed with the intensity brought about by two teams who wanted to hurt each other physically both in attack and defence. The treatment Manly tried to dish out on Greg Inglis was uncalled for but what about Inglis’ demeanour after the roughhouse tactics? He stood tall, calm and with his head swathed in bandages showed the Eagles and anyone else for that matter that he can take punishment and still perform. I am certain Eagles coach, Geoff Toovey, set about trying to upset one of the Rabbit’s strike weapons. Inglis might have reacted unfavourably 2 years ago but like his Origin and Test mate, Justin Hodges, he too, has matured and is more a complete player. A match like this opens your eyes to what teams are really in the race for the premiership. The Storm, Rabbits and Eagles are specials with the Roosters sniffing around the edges.
All the others are chances of making the bottom 4 in the 8 and this is where the excitement will be generated for the fans. The nature of the top 8 means any team in the bottom 4 is a chance of making it to grand final day. But, statistics show you need to be in the top 4 to win the premiership. Since last year we have adopted the AFL top eight format. Check out what the Fox Sports website states about winning the premiership: “If the AFL’s experience with the top-eight system is any indication, the answer is no. Statistics show that since the system was introduced to the AFL in 2000, no team from outside the top three has gone on to win a premiership. Worse, of those 48 teams who have started the finals in the bottom half of the eight, 24 have progressed beyond the first week, two beyond the second week and none beyond the third.” Damning evidence but fans always live in hope.