The Chewsday Chew – is it ever sufficient? (Ep17-2024)

Konnichiwa Cobbers!

Lead pic – large congratulations to Murrumburrah Public Faculty who gained the ACT 10s gala day just lately.

I hope all is properly in your world and right here’s hoping this missive makes it a wee bit higher on this tremendous Could Tuesday with a ‘Crew of the Week’, some ‘Random Tremendous Feedback’ and we are going to then shut it out with the now normal ‘Across the Campfires’ part.

Earlier than I launch into my musings, I’ll insert right here that it is a fan-run website and contributions are greater than welcome. Please be happy to succeed in out to me (HERE) be it with an article, an thought, or an opinion piece, and barring the merest examine for decency and decorum, you possibly can then inform your mum you’re a printed journalist. Or there’s additionally the ‘Submit a Story’ choice on the house web page if you wish to do your individual factor. So be happy to have a crack because the extra opinions and concepts and folks to share the load, the merrier we (and our vital others) all are.

Nutta’s Aussie Crew of the Week (wk14):

For the fourteenth time this 12 months we’ll dive into the workforce of the week chosen from the Aussie Tremendous groups. As a reminder, the choice standards is merely should you performed for an Aussie Tremendous franchise then you will get picked. However bear in mind, I’m not particularly choosing on the premise of Wobbly qualification, merely who in these groups performed properly sufficient to get picked.

I’ll wrap up the Crew of the Week collection for this Tremendous Season subsequent week with the closing of the common rounds. In doing so, I’ll in all probability title just a few sides: the Pure Choice (no matter harm, suspension or eligibility), after which a Nonetheless Standing Choice (so excluding the injured or suspended) and lastly I’ll title a Wobbly Choice (naturally leaving out OS based mostly gamers) for Saint Joe to contemplate in his knowledge.

However for as we speak, right here’s my TotW for week 14 because it stands:

1. Harry Hoopert – has chosen a superb time to resurface and put in some stable shifts.
2. Matt Faesller – gold awaits.
3. Taniela Tupou – he turned that 2nd half on its ear.
4. Josh Canham – wasn’t a lot else he might have completed for the Rebels.
5. Jeremy Williams – will get higher each week in the mean time.
6. Liam Wright – simply class.
7. Fraser McReight – Jahrome Brown’s recreation was huge however Fraggle’s was greater.
8. Rob Valetini – rock stable.
9. Tate McDermott – creative and harmful.
10. Tom Lynagh – was the perfect Aussie no10 on the weekend.
11. Tim Ryan – wow. He deserves his t-shirt.
12. Hunter Paisami – will get higher each week, whereas Foketi was forgettable and Hamish obtained cheese.
13. Josh Flook – was rock stable and Icky obtained cheesed.
14. Dylan Pietsch – one of many few Tahs to do one thing optimistic. Tried all night time.
15. Tom Wright – was the perfect 15, particularly contemplating Kellaway had an evening to overlook.
16. Jay Fonokalafi – the concreter did every little thing he might.
17. Alex Hodgman – had a extremely stable run for the Pinkoes.
18. Jeff T-Allen – performed a category shift and I couldn’t give it to 7As.
19. Ned Hanigan – the perfect of the Tahs piggies alongside Gamble.
20. Seru Uru – the man is a freak.
21. Ryan Louwrens – correct and composed whereas his aspect was imploding.
22. Len Ikitau – noticed cheese, however in any other case fairly stable.
23. Noah Lolesio – composed and good choices, however Lynagh’s star shone brighter this weekend.

Random Tremendous Feedback:

• Maybe I’m being overly important of my very own workforce – because the headline suggests, are they ever adequate? However one thing smells in Donkeyland. Their bread and butter for higher than 15yrs has been to make use of suffocating scrum and lineout set piece fundamentals to strangle different groups out of competition. However we’ve watched that reliability simply implode, with none nice change in personnel, for 2 weeks in a row now. One thing is up in Pollietown and I concern it’s one thing among the many complete group. I simply don’t know what it’s but.
• Our nationwide lock shares are trying good. We’ve obtained lads placing their palms up far and wide: Canham, Williams, Rodda, Smith, Holloway, Frost, Swain, Neville, Ryan and that leaves apart the likes of Lukhan S-Loto (harm) or Massive Willy (OS).
• And our 7 shares aren’t struggling for the lack of Hooper both, with Jahrome Brown, Carlo Tizzano, Brad Wilkin, Charlie Gamble and Fraser McReight all placing in goldworthy shifts over the weekend.
• If anybody thinks abilities are lifeless or dying in rugby, go have a detailed have a look at Jona Nareki’s cross to Folau Fakatava within the Highlanders v Drua recreation, about 5min in. I feel most folks, together with the commentators, missed it. However that was borderline un-freakin-believable.
• Doesn’t Tim Ryan proceed to be a revelation for the Reds? However, is he prepared for Wobbly sweets? Will we do the perennial “Australian Factor” and throw him in early, unready, and when he flails about we forged him to to purgatory? Or will we be (gasp) prudent and provides him a while and sources to develop each bodily and emotionally? And talking of Cadbury Gold, I have to wholeheartedly agree with Brissy from yesterday’s information: Ok.Beale is less than Wobbly normal, he’s simply not. Leaving apart absolutely the poison he’s at all times been for workforce cohesion, main sponsor relations, and so many folks related to our nationwide workforce and model, particularly girls, the man simply isn’t within the body anymore. Let it go, folks.

Across the Campfires

I noticed and heard some issues in nation rugby over the weekend that actually upset me. And on the danger of being controversial, I’m going to carry them up right here and speak in regards to the distinction between nation and metropolis rugby in doing so.

See, once I got here by nation rugby, one of many issues we at all times quietly saved an eye fixed on was competitors viability. It wasn’t a ‘huge factor’ that we spent hours agonising over. But it surely was one thing to maintain at the back of your thoughts. And one of many ways in which manifested was, should you had been enjoying for a powerhouse membership and also you had been going to play a a lot weaker membership, then your membership pencilled in that fixture prematurely as a chance to run your decrease grade guys in increased grades. You didn’t take an opportunity, you made certain you had the cattle to get full competitors factors, however you blooded the decrease grade guys to get them recreation time, to reward them for his or her coaching and perseverance, and to ensure your ‘correct’ workforce had some developed cowl in depth for later within the season when accidents impacted finals time (like they at all times do).

But in addition, even when unstated, you additionally ran your decrease graders within the increased grade in order to NOT utterly decimate the opponent. Why? As a result of extra so than metropolis rugby, nation rugby sources are actually bloody tight, and the identical faces and names and sponsors are there 12 months after 12 months. So should you smash some little city membership into absolute smithereens, and that retains occurring to them persistently all 12 months or over a few years, then the probabilities are that little membership gained’t discipline a workforce subsequent 12 months. AFL or league or accidents, or simply sheer pleasure will whittle away what gamers, sources and sponsors they’ve they usually gained’t be there subsequent 12 months. And now you may have a gap in your schedule and a weaker zone and code for the membership that disappeared.

Nicely on the weekend simply gone I do know of two giant, well-known nation golf equipment from huge regional areas who completely smashed some season-struggling opponents by over 100 factors. One of many golf equipment that obtained slaughtered had 14 guys play 2nds to then roll straight again out to play 1sts. Now, we’ve all been there and had to try this one or twice in our careers, it’s character constructing. However then I appeared on the names on the workforce sheets of the sturdy golf equipment (one of many joys of the web) they usually had been just about full groups from the weeks beforehand. There weren’t too many 3rds lads in 2nds or 2nds lads in 1sts and so forth. And they also crucified their opponents by over 100pts with largely common first grade sides.

Look, I wasn’t there for both match, I’m trying from afar. Perhaps I don’t know the entire image. However to me, the ramifications of these outcomes aren’t conducive to the betterment and stature of the sport, definitely not in nation rugby. Certain, each these bigger golf equipment obtained a sugar-rush, and their for and in opposition to differentials are actually terrific. However did it actually do them any good? And it definitely didn’t make their membership, zone or code any stronger. And in order that kind of short-term, gratuitous humiliation of a fellow membership saddens me.

Shifting alongside, I hear that Nyngan Bogan Bulls had a reasonably profitable day at residence in opposition to the Gulargambone Galahs over the weekend. The Bull-ettes obtained up 27-0 to make it 3 on the trot and the lads obtained up over the Galahs by a stable 64-26. It didn’t assist that just about the Galahs whole common pack had been out given it’s sowing season, however that’s life generally. That stated, I’ve it on good authority that Gular Galahs street journeys are a factor of magnificence no matter rating or length, and I’m certain this one was no completely different.

In Central West rugby, the Cootamundra Tricolours made the trek over to West Wyalong and their Weevils for a roll about within the mud with the Coota lads coming away the victors by 62-19. Each side had sturdy numbers and that, together with dry and heat situations, made for a cracking afternoon’s rugby by all accounts. Whereas the Coota crew skipped out early to ascertain a match successful 45-12 lead by oranges, the Weevils didn’t lie down and saved assaulting the Coota line as much as the very dying of the sport. However all stated, with the likes of Emani Faavevela crossing for a club-record six tries for the Tricolours, Coota had been to not be denied on the day.

Out and about in different zones, within the Central West New Holland competitors, Mudgee Wombats put in an unlimited exhibiting to journey over to Narromine and knock over the native Gorillas by 26-5 in 1st grade and 27-12 in 2nds. In the principle fixture, Mudgee misplaced two gamers to harm within the first 5min of the match, after which fell behind by 5-0 by the tenth minute, and so appeared to be in for a tough afternoon as they then additionally spent giant sections of the 2nd half bravely defending their tryline in opposition to a gallant Gorilla outfit. But it surely was the 2nd stanza of the primary half whereby the Wombats ‘did their factor’ and laid the inspiration of the ultimate rating line.

Over in Hunter Suburban rugby, there was a really late change in venue for the Bulls Pink recreation in opposition to Cooks Hill Brown Snakes, on account of floor situations at Empire Park. Thus the Bulls and Brown Snakes met on the Singleton Allen Bull Reserve as an alternative and there did ‘set to’, with the Cooks Hill Brown Snakes grabbing the sweets 26-19. That topped out a grand weekend for the Brown Snakes as, whereas the ladies misplaced to Southern Seashores, it was by all stories their greatest exhibiting of the season to this point, and their Friday night time workforce maintained their unbeaten season, knocking over Maitland Rugby by 24-5. So, go you Snakes (Purple Cobra jokes anybody?)!

Throughout within the South Coast & Monaro competitors, center of the desk protagonists Cooma Pink Devils and Yass Rams pretty belted the bejeezus out of one another on Saturday. As per the previous couple of weeks, Yass began frustratingly slowly and squandered some good early alternatives. However they settled because the half wore on and took a promising 14-3 lead into oranges, after which piled on 3 fast pies early within the 2nd half to arrange what would ordinarily be an insurmountable lead. Nevertheless Cooma isn’t the aspect to roll over simply, and with the Yass lads seemingly taking their foot off the Pink Devils throat, the Cooma comrades rallied and pinched again 4 pies, all sauced, to ship the sport right down to the wire. With scores locked at 31-all into the ultimate minute of the match, it was solely a last-gasp penalty that gave Yass a shot on objective. And so it fell to Mitch Stevens to take his shot. He did, and the remainder was historical past. 34-31 to Yass.

And talking of Yass, hats off to Adam Greenwood for making his one hundred and fiftieth look within the black & white throughout their nail-biter 33-31 loss to Braidwood Redbacks a fortnight in the past.

And lastly for as we speak, huge ups to Warren Panthers, the Hay Cutters, Kiwi Hawthorn and Melbourne Energy Home Rugby and a bunch of others for getting behind the newly based Swan Hill Brothers rugby membership with jerseys, goal-post pads, and all the opposite equipment {that a} start-up membership wants. The lads have additionally been proven nice assist by the native Swan Hill Rural Metropolis Council to even simply get rugby posts up in such an AFL-dominated panorama (I hear that was a council drama worthy of an ABC mini-series by itself). And with tournaments just like the Ballarat 7s, the Rugby Victoria 10s and trial video games in opposition to the Bendigo Combating Miners behind them, the Brothers line up for his or her inaugural official XV recreation this coming weekend in opposition to the Hay Cutters. Go properly Brothers and all the perfect to you. Bear in mind the phrases of Paul Kelly’s 2nd greatest tune: from little issues, huge issues develop.

Nicely that may do for this week people. Get on the market and assist your membership by pulling on the boots, or carrying a touchie’s flag and even simply exhibiting up, shopping for just a few beers and a steak sandwich or three. And don’t overlook to supply the referee the kind of useful recommendation all of them appear to so usually want (by the ability of all issues holy did we get robbed over the weekend, let me inform you…).

Anyway, play laborious, cobbers. Run straight. Sort out courageous. Put stitches which might be worthy of remembering into the material of your jersey. And at all times do not forget that Saturday is rugby day (someplace).