That's almost as stupid as Jarryd Hayne's headbutt. Stop using the refs as an excuse for Parra being shit. Guess they were the excuse they got smashed by Melbourne last week then right?

Barba hattrick\:d/

Parramatta are shit, no question, but the refs did help the Bulldogs tonight significantly. [size=7][u][b]Barba

EDIT: T Unit there is no call for racist language like that here. Please do not do it again.

try with the corner post was no try, touched the post before he put the ball down, gave them a try, bullshit benefit of the doubt. Killed off the Eels mentally with that one. Eels did not score again in the game.

No doubt hayne shouldnt have reacted the way he did but payne is just an absolute thug has a history of cheap shots & ennis chasing NH then running away as soon as hindmarsh turned around what a cat

Stopped reading at the bold. Told me all I needed to know.

I see you're one of those politically correctness nutjobs that are ruining what was once a great country. You people make me sick. If you dont like free speech then bugger off to Iran.

I see you're one of those politically correctness nutjobs that are ruining what was once a great country. You people make me sick. If you dont like free speech then bugger off to Iran.

Fears of an "explosion" of head trauma problems caused by concussion in the NRL

Nick Walshaw From: The Daily Telegraph April 16, 2011

SOMEWHERE between the dizziness and dry retching, Shaun Valentine will try to get himself ready for work.Not the landscaping business he runs now, but rather one he hasn't held since high school.
"Whenever the dizzy spells come on, it's like I go back in time," Valentine reveals without a hint of drama. "I get really groggy, confused.

"I think I'm still working at one of the jobs I had after leaving school.

"Eventually I do snap out if it and get my bearings.

"Yeah ... eventually."

If you cannot remember the four years, 36 games and seven major concussions that made Valentine's NRL career, don't feel bad neither does he.

This is life for the retired leaguie, still only 35, who labours to pay the mortgage, loves his two children and starts every day looking for the same set of car keys he has "religiously" placed on the lounge room bar every night before.

It's been this way for a while now, Valentine admits. Misplacing items, forgetting messages. The gifted athlete who once counted memory among his greatest assets now recalling games only via DVD.

Which isn't to say he wants to make a big deal of his condition. Exactly the opposite. He starts almost every answer this particular day with, "Mate, it's nothing too bad ... "

"But without trying to whip up a frenzy, this is a concern," leading Sydney neurologist Mark Davies warns. "It could be that Shaun's issues are caused by Type II diabetes, by thyroid disease or a calcium disorder. But it could also be that he's suffering from repeated hits to the head."

Does anyone still need convincing that the dark spectre of concussion has finally exploded in the NRL?

That this cloudy conundrum is no longer the domain of only American footballers like the late Mike Webster, the former Pittsburgh Steeler and owner of four Super Bowl rings, no less who a few years back was found urinating into his oven and pouring super glue on to rotted teeth.

A tortured soul so desperate for sleep, he'd use a Taser gun to render himself unconscious.

No, this is about the Kangaroo retiree, not even through his 50s, who now sits in a nursing home crippled by dementia. Or the cult Winfield Cup figure confiding in mates about the onset of Alzheimer's. The Daily Telegraph has agreed not to release their names.

And shouldn't we be asking how Phil Gould knows six leaguies who've committed suicide?

"I'm horrified that our footy codes aren't taking this issue seriously enough," says Dr Kathryn Fox, a Sydney medical practitioner whose past three years have been spent researching the effects of head injury on footballers.

"Up to one in five people who suffer concussion will have cognitive or personality changes.

"That's irrefutable - and here in the NRL we're treating our young men like human crash test dummies.

"Involving them in collisions the equivalent of hitting your windscreen while driving at 60km/h.

"They're doing it hundreds of times a year, too.

"I know young men who've had seizures on the field, who've dropped from A-grade to C-grade students ... and still we're asking if this is a problem?"

Certainly in America the question marks have gone.

They were erased eight years ago when Dr Bennet Omalu, completing Webster's autopsy, discovered a previously unknown brain disease which he labelled Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE.

Causing degeneration of brain tissue and the accumulation of tau protein, symptoms of CTE include depression, aggression, violence and extremely advanced Alzheimer's.

Or, in the case of Pittsburgh lineman Justin Strzelczyk, driving your pick-up headlong into a tanker of corrosive acid - a crash that killed him at the age of 36.

Autopsies revealed he had suffered from brain damage, most likely caused from years of impact playing football.

Indeed, there's a school of thought suggesting the NRL's increased player behaviour problems are in direct response to a CTE build-up in bigger, faster, heavier athletes whacking each other at 13gs (the risk of death arising with constant application of 16gs on the human body).

So what's being done?

Right now, Sydney neurosurgeon Dr Richard Parkinson - the man who saved the career of Rabbitoh Ben Ross - is halfway through a two-year study into the impact of head and spinal injuries in the code.

But that's all we know.

Dr Parkinson is currently working in the US.

Elsewhere, NRL chief medical officer Ron Muratore is overhauling NRL concussion rules while monitoring studies from the US. He stresses, however, that while NFL linebackers will use their head as "a weapon" 30 or 40 times a game, NRL clubs "boast an average of four to seven concussions a year".

Yet what about when the statistic becomes staggering Knights forward Richie Fa'aoso?

Should we be worried about him when you consider the college footballer, only 18, who died with a brain containing more tau than you'd find in a 50-year-old?

"People need to understand league players are open to the same concussions - the same multiple concussions - as NFL players," Australian Medical Association professor David Mountain warns. "Yes, there are differences in the way they tackle.

"But to see a guy whacked in State of Origin; to see him staggering, reeling about and then later return to the fray ... it cannot be right."

Professor David Ames of Alzheimer's Australia agrees, adding: "We know head injuries are no good ... it's why we invented seatbelts."

It's also why Dr Davies is now urging NRL-specific studies be undertaken. Why the RLPA is closely following proceedings and Aussie boxing legend Johnny Lewis suggests concussed players rest the same 28 days as fighters.

"But I guess the NRL is big business," Lewis shrugs. "And no one can miss a minute."

Just ask Valentine.

The forgotten footballer who, playing against the Auckland Warriors back in 2000, was cleared by a Cowboys club doctor to return to the field after being kayoed by giant Ali Lauitiiti. Who, within minutes, was iced again by fellow Warriors enforcer Joe Vagana.

"Which is when I had the seizure," says Valentine, eventually cut by the Cowboys on medical grounds.

"Out cold five minutes. After that I was concussed against Wests Tigers, against Canterbury and ... ahhh ... no, sorry, can't remember the rest."

Valentine admits he could be the first Australian to join the revolutionary research into CTE.

"Because the scariest thing, it's not the seizures," he shrugs. "It's the questions. Like afterwards, when you finally sit down in the quiet and think to yourself, 'What the bloody hell is going on upstairs'?"

@nickwalshaw

walshawn@dailytelegraph.com.au

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/fears-of-an-explosion-of-head-trauma-problems-caused-by-concussion-in-the-nrl/story-e6frexnr-1226039964994

Nothing to do with political correctness, and I've got no problem with free speech, my problem is with racism.

Says the guy with so much national pride for Australia he has Macedonia in his avatar and signature.

Racism is a form of free speech.

racism has nothing to do with free speech, T-Unit please do not make a comment like that on 442 again.

Edited by joffa: 16/4/2011 02:03:30 PM

Fair enough, but how is it NOT free speech?

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on "hate speech".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship.

Legends will weed out rogue player agents

Phil Gould
April 17, 2011

Legends and mentors ... Andrew Johns and, clockwise, Steve Mortimer, Mario Fenech, Steve Roach, Chris Anderson, Don McKinnon and, centre, Max Krilich.

The newly formed NSW Origin Legends organisation is about to enter the field of player management. The NSWOL rugby league-accredited player agent scheme could well be the first of its kind anywhere in the world of sport.

NSWOL president Chris Anderson and chief executive Max Krilich sat me down on Thursday and they could not hide their passion as they proudly explained this new concept. In presenting their business plan titled, "Kicking goals for rugby league", these two men spoke of the NSWOL organisation providing a not-for-profit, all-inclusive, lifelong management and support service for rugby league players and their families. All profits from this scheme would be channelled back into other support programs offered by the NSWOL, including the development of country rugby league and junior league programs.

It is my understanding that Anderson, Krilich and their business associates have presented the scheme to NRL management and it was met with enthusiastic support. I also understand Anderson attended the NRL's player agent accreditation lectures during the week to have himself and the NSWOL accredited as official player agents.

Anderson claims that of the $80 million (a minimum figure) clubs pay out in player salaries each season, more than $10m (at least) is in turn paid by players to managers, accountants, solicitors and lawyers in the form of commissions and fees. Anderson believes if the NSWOL can secure a healthy percentage of the player manager market, much of this money can find its way back into the game to help future development.

Let me quote from the executive summary in the new body's official presentation booklet:

"The committee and board of the NSWOL, on behalf of its over 230 former NSW Origin player members, believes that the management and nurturing of elite rugby league players requires a new approach. We recognise the enormous responsibility that player managers have in providing a professional holistic service offering that delivers best-practice advice and establishes the foundations not only for a successful rugby league career, but a successful life after rugby league.''

The committee therefore decided that the NSWOL had an ''obligation and commitment to harness the considerable rugby league knowledge of its members to mentor, manage and support both established and developing rugby league players. It was also noted with some consternation that some existing player managers have not delivered the outcomes that would reasonably be expected of a player manager adopting best-practice procedures."

The NSWOL stressed that it would be a not-for-profit company but this status would ''not detract from the intent to secure the most competitive commercial outcomes for our clients. However, profits from service fees generated will flow back to NSWOL for the operation of its charitable and mentoring activities.'' These activities are:

❏ Contributing to the growth and development of league through the efforts of Origin Legend members and NSWOL sponsors, and

❏ Providing support and donations to NSWOL charities, including indigenous charities promoting education and career pathways.

To ensure their services are of the highest standard, the NSWOL has secured the following professional firms as alliance partners:

❏ BDO Chartered Accountants, the fifth largest accounting firm in the global market;

❏ HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, a leading second-tier, full-service law company;

❏ Woodburn Sweitzer Management, one of Australia's leading entertainment management groups specialising in media and product endorsement;

❏ ANZ Stadium (I believe managing director Daryl Kerry, who attends NSWOL Board meetings - great bloke - has guaranteed premises for NSWOL's management offices); and

❏ Westpac Banking Corporation.

The NSWOL and these partners will offer the most comprehensive player manager service available, providing:

❏ Contract negotiations,

❏ Tax planning,

❏ Financial planning,

❏ Investment counselling,

❏ Marketing/promotion,

❏ Professional development and education for players,

❏ Career planning,

❏ Wealth management, and

❏ Appearances/endorsements and media coaching.

The involvement of Westpac Bank is interesting. Westpac's unique Alpha program for sports and entertainment stars is headed by Grant Hackett and provides lifelong financial management support.

The new board of the NSWOL - comprising Anderson, Krilich, Steve Mortimer, Steve Roach, Brad Fittler, Don McKinnon, Mario Fenech and Andrew Johns - has set its sights on making the NSWOL organisation one of the most successful and influential in Australian sport.

Their vision is to "spread the rugby league message across NSW to create a solid platform of respect and credibility through visits to our communities where former players can touch the hearts of kids, particularly those less fortunate, and encourage them to aspire to be the best they can be".

My view

The NSWOL player management scheme is indeed a major initiative.

Many times each year I am contacted by parents of young rugby league hopefuls who have just been selected in elite junior representative teams or who have been contacted by talent scouts from the NRL clubs. It's the same question every time: "Should my son have a manager?

The simple answer is yes. I believe all players, regardless of age, should have a manager. However, getting the right manager, with the right motivation and the right system of professional support is the key. Many of these parents, especially in country areas, will be putting the care and future of their sons in the hands of these people as the kids leave home for the first time. It's a very important decision.

There are some great managers around. I always recommend my friend Wayne Beavis because I know and trust his professionalism, ability and motivations. There are others who provide a great and personalised service. However, as recent bad publicity no doubt shows, there are those managers who think they are the rock stars; and it is these people who give player management a black eye and have parents concerned about entrusting the future of their kids to reckless agents.

From all my experience, and knowing the character and credentials of the people behind this NSWOL player management scheme and its alliance partners, I would have no hesitation in recommending this opportunity to parents as a professional, safe and secure option for the management of their sons' careers in rugby league and beyond. And you also know that fees paid will help the future development of the game.

For a full description of the NSWOL service.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/legends-will-weed-out-rogue-player-agents-20110416-1dioj.html#ixzz1JhVP3wBL

Great week for tipping, only the fucking useless Tigers fucking me up.

Solid win for the Knights, Sharks had me worried towards the end though. Will take the two points regardless

2-0 to the Dragons in the 61st min. Yeah that's right 2-0 :lol:

Some of the goal line defence from both teams, but particularly Souths has just been outstanding.

IIRC there was a match involving the Dragons a couple seasons back and the score line ended somthing like 4-0, a penalty goal either side of the half. Get the feeling it was against the Bunnies or the Broncoes. IIRC it was also in horrendus conditions.