Round 6, 2009: Cowboys 34 - Sharks 10 at Hindmarsh Stadium

[sharkarm]

The officiating of that match was nothing short of discraceful, and yes it did have a major bearing on the final score because when a team is down on form the last thing we need is poor officiating.
Don't forget referees are people too, they hold grudges just like anyone and that dead man walking klein has definitely got daggers out for Ricky and the Sharks.
He needs a good bashing !!!

 

[IronShark]

I think this was our best performance of the year... I know the scoreline doesn't affect us.

Look at it this way, we definately didnt have the rub of the green. All the 50-50's went against us.

Luke O'Donnell foot in touch off kickoff, instead of us attacking the line, cowboys go and score (6 point swing).

No try to Covell (Maitua was merely a support player and Travis Burns milked it for all it was worth. Myself and the fox-sports comentators believed it was a try).

As a result of this no-try, they score next play (12 point swing).

Tonga, this is a 50-50 one, potential double movement, Snowden (i think it was) stopped him monentum. Only on a 2nd lunge did he get the ball down.
(potential 24pt swing).

As well as this, an unlucky bounce to Ferguson gifted the cowboys a try and an unlucky bounce cost simmo a try. This makes it a 36 point swing.

If the 50-50 calls that went the cowboys way went ours, we would have come out convincing victors.

However, this is pure speculation and we are stranded in 16th place. But we are only 4wins from the top of the table, and a possible 40 competition points up for grabs, there is time to rebuild our season.

I think you are having yourself on! Yes, alot of stuff went against us but seriously! Check the stats for youself. Have a look at the errors and missed tackles and a completion rate that must rank amonst one of the worst ever by an NRL team. Referees aren't making us drop the ball or miss tackles.

 

[Great White]

The saying is true, you make your own luck, and when you are playing as bad as we are, you are never going to get a call or a bounce of the ball.

I do not think we have a forward making over 100m per game, even Gallen, please correct me if I am wrong, there is your number one problem there, if your forwards are not making the metres, then how can any of your backs do a thing?

Last year we rolled at teams and were kicking on a get out set from our 40 or 50, now we are kicking consistently from 30 out, you just can't do that at this level, then this causes you to push on things to make them work, which in turn causes your mistakes.

If you look at say the Dragons, as an example they have at least 2 forwards making over 100m per game, so already they have good go forward, this allows the backs to do their thing, Sowards kicking game is great because he has the other teams on the back foot via the forwards.

As they say, it is a game of inches, and if we are not making enough yards up the middle, you can not do anything else.

 

[IronShark]

As i said in another post, refs don't cause you to drop the ball or miss tackles. We have to stop making excuses and looking for someone else to blame. We have to take OWNERSHIP of our performance and accept responsibility for it.

Having said this, above all else, the most important thing we can do as supporters is GET OUT THERE and SUPPORT THE TEAM! Yes, I have been bagging their recent performances because they have been a disgrace but that does not mean I won't be at every game I can encouraging the boys to turn things around.

The worst possible thing for the club now is for supporters to desert it.

 

[ROB SHARK]

The saying is true, you make your own luck, and when you are playing as bad as we are, you are never going to get a call or a bounce of the ball.

I do not think we have a forward making over 100m per game, even Gallen, please correct me if I am wrong, there is your number one problem there, if your forwards are not making the metres, then how can any of your backs do a thing?

Last year we rolled at teams and were kicking on a get out set from our 40 or 50, now we are kicking consistently from 30 out, you just can't do that at this level, then this causes you to push on things to make them work, which in turn causes your mistakes.

If you look at say the Dragons, as an example they have at least 2 forwards making over 100m per game, so already they have good go forward, this allows the backs to do their thing, Sowards kicking game is great because he has the other teams on the back foot via the forwards.

As they say, it is a game of inches, and if we are not making enough yards up the middle, you can not do anything else.

Great post, really true about the kicking it shows how much of a calming influence Noddy was.

 

[Google News]

Refs rob games of colour

Refs rob games of colourMelbourne Herald Sun, AustraliaIt should have been a Cronulla scrum deep in Cowboy territory. Instead the Cowboys rucked it out for a couple, got the obligatory penalty that put them deep into Cronulla territory, and scored off the next set. That made it 12-4 when it could have been ...

Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25363045-5016527,00.html

Refs rob games of colour
By Paul Kent
April 21, 2009 12:00am

<EDITED> Full article can be found here

Cronulla kicked off Sunday's second half trailing 6-4.

Luke O'Donnell stood on the sideline and flicked the ball infield, the linesman completely missing his foot in touch.

It should have been a Cronulla scrum deep in Cowboy territory. Instead the Cowboys rucked it out for a couple, got the obligatory penalty that put them deep into Cronulla territory, and scored off the next set. That made it 12-4 when it could have been 6-10.

Later, Luke Covell scored but it was sent upstairs so the video referee could see if Travis Burns, in cover defence, had run into Reni Maitua backing up.

Of course it was a try.

Nope, it wasn't. Obstruction.

What was Maitua supposed to do, disappear? Burns ran into him.

Naturally, under weight of possession, the Cowboys scored on the next set against a tiring defence, their missed conversion making it a 10-point turnaround.

Cronulla eventually lost 34-10, their hopes long gone before the final tries ever put it beyond doubt.

There were other examples last weekend.

<EDITED>

 

[ROB SHARK]

Refs rob games of colourMelbourne Herald Sun, AustraliaIt should have been a Cronulla scrum deep in Cowboy territory. Instead the Cowboys rucked it out for a couple, got the obligatory penalty that put them deep into Cronulla territory, and scored off the next set. That made it 12-4 when it could have been ...

Source: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25363045-5016527,00.html

Refs rob games of colour
By Paul Kent
April 21, 2009 12:00am

<EDITED> Full article can be found here

Cronulla kicked off Sunday's second half trailing 6-4.

Luke O'Donnell stood on the sideline and flicked the ball infield, the linesman completely missing his foot in touch.

It should have been a Cronulla scrum deep in Cowboy territory. Instead the Cowboys rucked it out for a couple, got the obligatory penalty that put them deep into Cronulla territory, and scored off the next set. That made it 12-4 when it could have been 6-10.

Later, Luke Covell scored but it was sent upstairs so the video referee could see if Travis Burns, in cover defence, had run into Reni Maitua backing up.

Of course it was a try.

Nope, it wasn't. Obstruction.

What was Maitua supposed to do, disappear? Burns ran into him.

Naturally, under weight of possession, the Cowboys scored on the next set against a tiring defence, their missed conversion making it a 10-point turnaround.

Cronulla eventually lost 34-10, their hopes long gone before the final tries ever put it beyond doubt.

There were other examples last weekend.

<EDITED>

Great article!!!!!

 

[sharky94]

YEAH!!!, at least someone is feeling are anger!!!!!!!!!

 

[JimBob]

good to see Paul Kent has his head on straight

 

[IronShark]

I don't think refereeing is our main proble, as I said before - but it hasn't helped, that's for sure.
One thing I did see when watching the first half, was a try disallowed to Pomeroy as it was pulled up for a forward pass to Covell. I couldn't hear the commentary, as I was in the Qantas lounge but I saw a few of the replays and it looked pretty flat to me. Did anyone else think this was a tough call or am I just being biased (completely possible)

I didn't see the second half but have read of a number of the decisions that went against us. Was this possibly another one?

 

[sos]

im blind
im deaf
i want to be NRL ref

those turkies mistakes + silly errors, cost us..we struggle big time when decisions go against us

g how did i no u would have to have ur weeky whinge bout referee's. every week u say the same thing, the player su dislike and the referees cost us pull ur head in.

the luke o'donnel and Obstruction calls were both wrong, yet a good football side would bucker up and defend. 50/50 calls didnt go our way still the officiating was average to say the least. it wasnt disgraceful but it was average. i dont belive ref's costs us the game. our go forward was ****house with dougy the only one having a dig in the go forward. lets hope we play ebtter against souths

 

[GottaLoveTheCowboys]

Hello Sharks fans...

As you can tell, I'm a proud supporter of the NQ Cowboys and have been for a few years.

I joined here as I read some of your posts in this thread and felt that I needed to speak my mind on it.

Are you people serious when you are saying you are already looking ahead to next year? As I recall, teams win premierships months from now. There's no point believing that the start to a season is indicative of the direction that your side will take for the rest of the year. None at all.

Yes, you are in a rut right now, but the last I remember, the Sharks have only lost 5 games in a row. I say 'only' because I still have very fond memories of my own team's 13-match losing streak last year.

The point I'm trying to get is that you should never give up on your team just because they lose a few games. Sure, you can get angry, every fan does. But no SUPPORTER should say that they are giving up when it's getting tough. Stick it out. I've watched all of the Cowboys last 24 games, and we've won 4...So I really don't think you've got it all that tough at the moment in comparison to some teams last year

You've all been fans of the Sharks for years now. Once they start winning again, would you rather their victories be even sweeter knowing you've dealt with the hard times, or would you rather have to watch them in guilt, knowing that you're nothing more than a fairweathered fan?

Your team made it to equal first (I believe) last year. My team was equal-last. Just because they've won one game so far doesn't mean you can forget about their successes.

 

[Google News]

Matt Bowen – Adelaide turns up for leagueTownsville Bulletin, AustraliaNow I don't really remember much about the Adelaide Rams, who folded after the 1998 season, but I reckon the NRL could do worse than to put another team there. It's a good start having games there again and I hope they keep it up. I know Cronulla have ...

Source: http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/04/22/49905_cowboys.html

Adelaide turns up for league
April 22nd, 2009
Matt Bowen

IT was interesting playing an NRL game in Adelaide on Sunday.

Interesting not only because it's the city of churches, but a city where rival code AFL is king.

They have two teams – the Adelaide Crows and the Port Power – so we had no idea how the locals would take to a rugby league game being played there. I really didn't know what to expect before we took to the field at Hindmarsh Stadium, especially because it was a Cronulla `home' game and so far away from our Dairy Farmers Stadium base.

But the crowd was great.

There were more than 8000 there which these days is about all you can expect at a lot of games in Sydney, so the atmosphere was great.

They really seemed to get into it.

Now I don't really remember much about the Adelaide Rams, who folded after the 1998 season, but I reckon the NRL could do worse than to put another team there. It's a good start having games there again and I hope they keep it up.

I know Cronulla have signed a deal to play one game a year there for another two more years so that's a big help.

Maybe if we get more games there, it would generate enough interest for the NRL to consider putting a team back there one day.

It's also interesting to hear the whispers that Central Queensland are keen to get a team in the competition in the coming years.

I like that idea because we have so much talent up here and they could be a strong club which would be good for the game in Queensland.

It would be a big job for them to get it over the line, but it would be great if they did.

There has also been talk of a second Brisbane team or maybe one on the Sunshine Coast, but with the Broncos and Titans already down there it would be nicer to see one a bit closer to us.

And if they are going to put more teams in the comp, then I definitely think one has to be in Queensland – the game is just so strong here. Hopefully Rocky manages to get it.

 

[JimBob]

Bowen made some good suggestions there, and that shocks me the guy is usually really shy and never really dose new articles....

 

[Google News]

DISCORD: EDITION TWO

DISCORD: EDITION TWOWorld of Rugby League, Australia... Test being played at the same time on Friday May 8 and four NRL games over the weekend. What happened? The clubs wouldn't cop it. We might as well forget the World Cup ever happened.... THE thing about last-placed Cronulla is that they can attack. ...

Source: http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=33037

DISCORD: EDITION TWO
22 Apr 2009 17:13
by Steve Mascord

<EDITED> Full article can be found here

HAD the pleasure of visiting the City of Churches-converted-to-nightclubs on the weekend and even though the crowd of eight-and-a-half thousand for the Cronulla-North Queensland looked disappointing, the overall experience was positive.

Certainly, the local sports gossip columnist noticed that neither Gallop nor Graham Annesley were present for the transplanted Sharks home game and questioned how serious the NRL is about Adelaide.

Simple answer: they're not. Even the South Australian Rugby League doesn't seem serious about Adelaide! Their boss was quoted as saying there are already enough national sports franchises there!

But here's something you won't like reading if you live in the game's heartlands but it's true nonetheless: Adelaide would add dollars to the NRL's next television contract and the Central Coast would be worth the value of the extra game each week and nothing more.

The number of extra viewers the game would get on the Central Coast would be negligible and besides, if Wollongong can't support a team of its own, how can Gosford?

There is evidence that the core support for the game in Adelaide would be bigger than in Melbourne. When the Rams were shut down, it was front page news in the Advertiser and it would be front page news if they came back, too.

And jeez, couldn't Cronulla use $11 million right now? Hmm. Where could they get $11 million? Well, there's the league's possible relocation allowance....

<EDITED>

THE thing about last-placed Cronulla is that they can attack. They just can't attack well and defend well in the same game.

The likes of Trent Barrett, Matthew Wright and Mitch Brown were impressive with the ball in hand in the second half.

But three times in the second session, Cronulla players had a good grip on opponents close to the line (in the case of Willie Tonga, over the line), and just let them go.

This from a side that prides itself on 'D'. Mystifying.

But it is surely no co-incidence that three sides who have prided themselves for so-called "work on the ground'' have come back to the field dramatically under the scrutiny of two referees: Melbourne, Manly and Cronulla.

<EDITED>