By DAVE HADFIELD
Here’s a surprising rugby league fact with which you can win money down at the pub.
My local team lost 104-0 last week and still didn’t have a player who made as many mistakes as Sam Burgess.
Time was when, it you wanted to boost your confidence about England‘s prospects for this autumn and beyond, all you had to do was check your TV schedule and tune in to watch South Sydney.
Sadly for the Rabbitohs and potentially for our international side, it’s not quite like that any more. Burgess Watch is not an uplifting experience.
Take last Monday night’s defeat by Manly. Tom and George split enough ball between them to lose a couple of matches.
The unrelated Joe Burgess made a series of errors that confirm the suspicion that he is not going to be an instant replacement for anyone when he acts back to Wigan. Not until he rebuilds his confidence – and that could take some time.
On Monday, he was responsible for a string of howlers, including losing the ball over the try-line when it would have been easier to score.
The real worry, however, is Sam. I relayed the surprising news a couple of weeks ago that he had made more errors than any player in the NRL. After tho Sea Eagles match he must be very nearly lapping the rest of the field.
His slippery hands were just a staging post for balls on their way to the ground. And this from a player who, quite apart from his power and athleticism, was equally highly regarded for his wonderful handling.
There are some extenuating circumstances. He is still working as hardas ever; that’s how he gives himself so many opportunities to knock-on.
And, of course, everyone knows about his problems in this area and can be guaranteed to tackle the ball and knock it loose, secure in the knowledge that any 50-50 decisions will go against him.
I don’t suppose Sam Burgess has ever played in a team beaten 104-0. But he has had a few little sneak preview of how it might feel.
My advice would be the same in both cases. Stop trying too hard; let the ball come to you and stick it up your jumper tor a couple of weeks.
I was with an interesting group of speccies on the last train to Bolton after the Wigan-Saints derby.
They were first and foremost Bolton Wanderers supporters. For rugby league purposes, they split pretty much down the middle – St Helens and Wigan.
I need hardly tell you which sub-group was the happier. In particular, the Wigan faction were absolutely convinced that, in Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, the Warriors have been sold a real pup.
Tho Wrecking Ball certainly went the wrong way about making an impact on his home debut. Wigan don’t need another ill-disciplined forward, but the new man’s combo of hair-pull and punch ensured that he would be a) sin-banned and b) suspended for the Challenge Cup semi-final.
Add to that the way he looked distinctly off the pace in fitness terms and it was not an auspicious beginning for a player who had been given such a big build-up.
That was one thing they could agree on aboard the 22.55 from Wallgate.
Grounds for confusion
One good thing about following rugby league in the 21st century; there’s little chance of running out of new grounds to visit.
That was why I could not resist a trip to Sale recently to see Swinton play Batley.
Heywood Road, of course, is the historic home of Sale RUFC – not a bad source of rugby league players in the years before the world was turned upside down.
Mind you, it’s pretty obvious why they had to move when they got ambitious. The ground is as boxed-in as any lower division league stadium. Think Weaste, but with better-tended front gardens.
Actually, that could add to the confusion. I mean, Salford and Sale already share the Stadium Beyond the World’s End.
Swinton used to be at Salford and are now at Sale, whilst Sale used to be at Stockport.
Swinton, meanwhile, still have ambitions to set up in Agecroft, where they might even share with Salford, if Dr Koukash pulls out. Alternatively, the owner of Sale might buy Salford. And move them to Heywood Road, perhaps?
As for the game, a good turn-out from Batley filled the low shed on the opposite side from the main stand, pushed the crowd above 1,100 and created plenty of atmosphere.
Their third-placed finish is one heck of an achievement for John Kear to add to his CV. It might not quite measured up to Challenge Cups with Sheffield and Hull, or saving Wakefield from relegation, but it’s another reminder of how exceptional his record is.
That’s the worry now, of course, with Kear off to to Wakey from next season and, if the rumors are to be believed, the likes of Keegan Hirst and Chris Ulugia following him at a discreet distance.
I looked at the Batley team that the beat the Lions, however, with hardly a weakness in it, and decided in the end that he is leaving a solid and durable legacy behind him.
A New(town) dawn?
My favorite Australian club Newtown, are back in the big time. They featured on worldwide TV last weekend.
It was a fleeting appearance and entirely due to the dropped Robbie Farah playing against them.
But you’ve got to stay somewhere and that could have been the fightback starting right there.
