League adds value for spec-savers sponsorship

Two weeks into the year and it seems that the big unexpected performer for this year is Newcastle. The Knights are performing well despite having half their pre season team on remand or living in fear that have been capture placing an order on the phone taps. Now I don't want to be the bearer of bad news to many Novocastrians (after all the location is punishment enough) but the NRL has signed onto the World Anti Doping Authority charter in order to get Federal Government funding.

The WADA rules say that if more than 3 members of one team are found guilty of a drugs charge then that team is banned from the competition and their medals are stripped, the result is wiped. The Knights have clocked up 2 team members and it's only a matter of time before a third gets charged. Could the NRL soon be scheduling in a mysterious bye each week - highly unlike. The same thing happened in 1998 when half the team tested positive to Roids and did you know to this day those drugs cheats still haven't given that trophy back.

The victim of this gross injustice was of course the Sea Eagles. It seems that every league fan hates them and is more than happy to see them lose by means fair or foul. And its still happening today. League fans for all the other teams should be rejoicing as the Big Manly props decimate opposition teams leaving them to be a crumbling mess the following week. But what do the Eagles get as a reward, some of the worst referring decisions made this decade.

How is it that three refs and two touch judges couldn't see a 'line ball pass that floated a meter forward from Daniel Mortimer. But that wasn't the ultimate injustice. Having been encouraged by scoring one try of a forward pass Daniel decided to go all out and throw a gridiron style pass that cut out the Manly winger and centre not by going over their heads but by chucking the thing about 5 meters behind them. Still I have seen that sort of thing before and no doubt has just about everyone else, particularly those who watched the 1995 grand final.

Anyway, speaking of confessed drugs cheats two of the biggest offenders from that era now both have a firm place on different TV channels.

The footy show has started the year well mostly thanks to Darryl Broman. Despite only being on the show for 5 minutes a week he at least spends most of his week trying to think of something funny to say. Unlike say Andrew Johns, who spends all week resting so he can come up with "they need to complete their sets of six" yes thanks scoop.

Ahh Andrew, football skills none surpassed but an intellect rivalled by garden tools. I can see Andrew now in the commentary box counting up to 6 on his fingers, god knows how he subtracts, does he gets his fingers amputated?

On the other channels Matty Johns show may also struggle if the adds are anything to go by. Hopefully the rest of the show is better than that. Still it might get good ratings as apparently all Matt's mates like to watch.


Daniel Mortimer "Man of the Match" with two touch down passes