By ANDREW VOSS
SORRY to blow the whistle, but Wayne wasn’t entirely telling the truth in his big press conference last week.
And can I say I stopped bothering many seasons ago about playing his games when it comes to interviews. But I’ll make an exception this week because there has been so much discussion in the aftermath.
Wayne’s demeanor and answers for the BBC interviewer were rude and childish in my opinion. The job of being interviewed is not that hard. And it is a coach’s job.
Wayne has proven he can do them. He certainly handles them with ease when there is something he wants to criticise, or when he wants to get a point across.
And here in Australia, every week, without fail, he will do interview for ABC radio, the national broadcaster, no matter the credentials of the interviewer.
He has never offered up the rubbish brief answers to them. At the same games though he will refuse to be interviewed by others.
It’s blatant hypocrisy on his part. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Danny the Great
IF EVER filmmakers decide to make a sequel to Braveheart starring Mel Gibson, I reckon they’ll have to find a spot somewhere in the storyline for Danny Brough.
You know I have always been an admirer of this tenacious and talented competitor, but his legend certainly grew in Scotland’s historic draw with New Zealand.
His kicking game earned high praise here in Australia by one of the best of all time in Andrew Johns. With Brough, England’s loss has always been Scotland’s massive gain.
And what a shot in the arm Danny and his team gave international rugby league. Bravo!
Barba cut
WHAT A WASTE. After a triumphant year both individually and for his team, Cronulla’s Ben Barba finds his career in limbo again.(continued below)
Barba tested positive for cocaine use just days after the Grand Final. This following a previous positive test to the same drug after Mad Monday ‘celebrations’ in 2015.
Sorry, but how dumb can someone be? Ben is no kid. He is a father or four. He was the NRL’s player or the year in 2012.
After a tough few years, he returned to his best football this season and was earning dollars for his efforts. How and why would anyone put all of that at risk?
I’m obviously not smart enough to work it out. But sorry if I’ve lost a heart. Should we really care what happens next to Barba?
For the record, he’s fled country and his family to attend a rehab clinic in Thailand. We’ve had that many players go there lately we may as well base a team there!
Rugby league doesn’t have to be the home for lost souls. There comes a time where blokes have to work things out for themselves.
In my opinion, if Ben Barba comes back to rugby league eventually… great. If he doesn’t… so be it.
Zak will light up the Tigers
I’D BE VERY surprised if Zak Hardaker doesn’t return to the Super League a better player after his stint in the NRL with Penrith.
I would have loved to see him have a full off-season training tackling the NRL to do his immense talents justice… but that wasn’t to be.
Castleford fans, you have snared yourselves a star. I can’t wait to see him in a Tigers jersey next season.
Please listen to Mal
I KNOW THAT Mal Meninga has never been short on admirers across the rugby league in England.
But I’ll tell you something; he has been such a breath of fresh air Australian
coach, and bringing greater pride to the jumper.
In fairness to many of his predecessors, Mal has really had an advantage having been there and done that in the Kangaroos jersey.
I support his latest call to have shorter pre-seasons, and room for more international rugby league mid-year.
Meninga has suggested a return to New Zealand tours during the season.
The Trans-Tasman rivalry has never been stronger yet the Kiwis, would you believe, have only hosted one of the last 10 Test matches between the countries.
How do we get it s wrong when it comes to Test football?
From the Author’s chair
I’VE continued churning out the chapters for my book over the past week.
To break things up I jumped forward to the end where I have devoted a chapter to nominating my ‘bests and favourites.’
Again this week, I will reveal a little of what I have produced.
From all the thousands of games I have called or I have witnessed, I am comfortable in placing the 2013 World Cup semi-final at Wembley between England and New Zealand at the top of the pile.
And in nominating a favourite co-commentator, the one and only Brian ‘Nobby’ Noble got my vote, just ahead of a host of champion blokes I have had the pleasure of working alongside through my career.
There’s plenty more to come though folks.
Have a great week.
Giddy Up!
