Just posted this on the soapbox for NRL on Fox - don't expect much from Fox though - they are responsible to a large degree...
Warren - explain this to me...
Round 25 sees one of the last true gentlemen of Rugby League - Steven "Beaver" Menzies - play his last regular season home game at his beloved Brookvale Oval.
Yet the powers that be that run this great game (NRL, Ch9 & Fox) found it in their wisdom to schedule this game for Monday Night Football.
Now, I understand the concept of the TV deal and the structue of matches etc to maximise ratings and revenue, HOWEVER, with the current state of the game and all the things happening off the field to sour its reputation with the public and more importantly the coporate dollar, you would think the "game" would take this opportunity to celebrate one of the icons of Rugby league.
Loyalty over salary, mates over money - all the things that seperate Rugby League from most other professional sports around the world are what the greatest try scoring forward of all time stands for.
Can someone step in with some greater thinking and get this game re-scheduled to a time and day that would allow the Manly club & the NRL to send him off in the fashion he deserves - not to mention the fact that a Sunday arvo game would ensure a sell out - a Monday evening will not be so favourbale - so the argument for revenue is strong as well.
Sometimes common sense has to prevail and sometimes the "game" needs to do a small favour for someone who has done so much for it over the last 16 years.