ManlyBacker
Winging it
BRISBANE's favourable draw over the opening stages of this season is a dead-set disgrace. Fancy having eight Friday night games in succession - each match giving the Broncos a tidy, settled seven day turn-around, and all played in the cool of the night.
The Broncos played last Friday night with their opponents this Friday, Wests Tigers, having played a golden point game two days later.
How easy - and unfair to everyone else - for coach Anthony Griffin to prepare his side. Here is what their opponents have had to endure before playing Brisbane: rd 2, North Qld, six day turn-around; rd 3, Newcastle, five days; rd 4, Souths, five days; rd 5, St George Illawarra, six days; rd 6, Wests Tigers, five days.
All while Brisbane have a comfortable seven-day break to plan training and rehab. Hopefully the new television deal will end Channel Nine's interference in scheduling. Over to you John Grant, please fix this fiasco.
ALL TOO HARD
Finding it difficult to back a home team winner this year? After five rounds, just 15 home teams have won the 40 games contested - a 37.5 per cent success rate. That happens to be the lowest after five rounds in 47 long years.
TAB Sportsbet told us yesterday that 20 outsiders have won the 40 matches so far. Beware this weekend - all eight games are toss-ups.
HOT TIP
Brett Stewart to stay at Manly, despite being strongly linked to the Sydney Roosters. The mail out of Brookvale suggests that Stewart will end his career at the Sea Eagles.
The bumbling board that stuffed-up Des Hasler's negotiations last year are terrified of the media and public backlash should Stewart, the Prince of Brookvale, walk away. Kieran Foran, Tony Williams and Steve Matai also remain off contract.
There is talk Manly may look at off-loading Brent Kite, who has been magnificent for the Sea Eagles since joining from St George Illawarra in 2005. Williams looks set to join either Parramatta or Canterbury.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/brisbane-broncos-favoured-by-eight-friday-night-matches-in-a-row/story-e6frexnr-1226317888978
Read the full article
The Broncos played last Friday night with their opponents this Friday, Wests Tigers, having played a golden point game two days later.
How easy - and unfair to everyone else - for coach Anthony Griffin to prepare his side. Here is what their opponents have had to endure before playing Brisbane: rd 2, North Qld, six day turn-around; rd 3, Newcastle, five days; rd 4, Souths, five days; rd 5, St George Illawarra, six days; rd 6, Wests Tigers, five days.
All while Brisbane have a comfortable seven-day break to plan training and rehab. Hopefully the new television deal will end Channel Nine's interference in scheduling. Over to you John Grant, please fix this fiasco.
ALL TOO HARD
Finding it difficult to back a home team winner this year? After five rounds, just 15 home teams have won the 40 games contested - a 37.5 per cent success rate. That happens to be the lowest after five rounds in 47 long years.
TAB Sportsbet told us yesterday that 20 outsiders have won the 40 matches so far. Beware this weekend - all eight games are toss-ups.
HOT TIP
Brett Stewart to stay at Manly, despite being strongly linked to the Sydney Roosters. The mail out of Brookvale suggests that Stewart will end his career at the Sea Eagles.
The bumbling board that stuffed-up Des Hasler's negotiations last year are terrified of the media and public backlash should Stewart, the Prince of Brookvale, walk away. Kieran Foran, Tony Williams and Steve Matai also remain off contract.
There is talk Manly may look at off-loading Brent Kite, who has been magnificent for the Sea Eagles since joining from St George Illawarra in 2005. Williams looks set to join either Parramatta or Canterbury.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/brisbane-broncos-favoured-by-eight-friday-night-matches-in-a-row/story-e6frexnr-1226317888978
Read the full article