Don't normally listen to talkin sport but a netball carnival forced me to do so yesterday.Graham Lowe was on the show and categorically stated that he has stopped giving it to his Rugby mates and league is just as boring. Although not as boring as yawnion I must admit I am starting to agree with him. I was once an eight game a week man when I could - now I find I only tune in to a couple outside the Manly game.
What is good about Lowy is he not only whinges but has some upfront answers. Basically said that the interchange rule has destroyed forward play in a skills sense and the birth of the interchange fiasco we now have was the 10 metre rule which paved the way for the robots of today. Used the example of Hasler being regarded as a super coach two years ago because he had a forward passing to a forward, something he coaches under 9s to do each week.
The guy has coached all over the world and he said easily the best system he has coached under was Wigan with a two fresh reserves/4 interchanges policy. Created a game where footballers dominate and players of all sizes and stamina can compete with fatigue opening the game up late in each half. He also said only a lunatic would allow current coaches to define where the game is heading etc- they, understandably, have only one thing in mind- their job. They should be totally excluded and I agree with him.
He also said many coaches couldn't hold down a job that required innovation as opposed to simply copying something and trying to do it better.Made an interesting comment about the way the commentators fawn over Greg Inglis week in week out and how it is an indictment at the lack of pure football skill we see each week that many others are not lauded for similar exploits. They just bang on repeatedly about GI,Burgess,SBW and a couple of others.Barging is the new way, no skill required until field position is attained. Would Artie even get a game now?
All the above seems obvious to most yet we hear nothing from the gooses who run the game.They simply point to ratings as the be all and all. If that's the case I wont be watching any game other than Manly in 5 years time and most of my mates agree. The game has a repetitive sameness that unless addressed will drive many away.
It was astounding the reaction to his comments. Caller after caller said they had had enough and were handing in memberships etc. Small sample I know but I hang in league circles re our local club at Burleigh and almost to a man most blokes are in total agreement with where the game is heading.
It is now a structured, boring, not footballer based game that is saved only by tribalism and that is being eroded by the minute with rules like the one that allows DCE and Foran to play for a club while contracted the next year to another club.
What is good about Lowy is he not only whinges but has some upfront answers. Basically said that the interchange rule has destroyed forward play in a skills sense and the birth of the interchange fiasco we now have was the 10 metre rule which paved the way for the robots of today. Used the example of Hasler being regarded as a super coach two years ago because he had a forward passing to a forward, something he coaches under 9s to do each week.
The guy has coached all over the world and he said easily the best system he has coached under was Wigan with a two fresh reserves/4 interchanges policy. Created a game where footballers dominate and players of all sizes and stamina can compete with fatigue opening the game up late in each half. He also said only a lunatic would allow current coaches to define where the game is heading etc- they, understandably, have only one thing in mind- their job. They should be totally excluded and I agree with him.
He also said many coaches couldn't hold down a job that required innovation as opposed to simply copying something and trying to do it better.Made an interesting comment about the way the commentators fawn over Greg Inglis week in week out and how it is an indictment at the lack of pure football skill we see each week that many others are not lauded for similar exploits. They just bang on repeatedly about GI,Burgess,SBW and a couple of others.Barging is the new way, no skill required until field position is attained. Would Artie even get a game now?
All the above seems obvious to most yet we hear nothing from the gooses who run the game.They simply point to ratings as the be all and all. If that's the case I wont be watching any game other than Manly in 5 years time and most of my mates agree. The game has a repetitive sameness that unless addressed will drive many away.
It was astounding the reaction to his comments. Caller after caller said they had had enough and were handing in memberships etc. Small sample I know but I hang in league circles re our local club at Burleigh and almost to a man most blokes are in total agreement with where the game is heading.
It is now a structured, boring, not footballer based game that is saved only by tribalism and that is being eroded by the minute with rules like the one that allows DCE and Foran to play for a club while contracted the next year to another club.
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