Brad Arthur is gone, and all bottled water salesman across Australia are much the poorer
As we move on to Round 12 we have seen the second coaching casualty of 2024, as Brad Arthur's 11-year stint at the Eels, which saw him become the longest-tenured coach in Eels history, was mercilessly ended on Monday after their 2nd Half belting from the Melbourne Storm left them in 14th, and Brad deserved a much better exit from Parramatta, having taken them from the lowly depths of consecutive wooden spoons to the finals, to another wooden spoon, followed by sustained finals runs and a drought-breaking Grand Final in 2022, where they were simply up against the greatest *legal* dynasty rugby league has seen in a generation.
Arthur deserved far better, especially considering it was his 50th birthday on Tuesday, and he gave this statement to the Daily Telegraph:
I'm not bitter, I'm grateful to the club for the opportunities that have been given to me.
In 11 years I've been able to look after my family, made lots of great friendships, learnt so much about rugby league, learned a lot about managing people and expectations and most importantly got to experience the excitement of an NRL grand final week and game without getting the desired result.
I understand it's a results driven business and our performances weren't where they needed to be recently.
I'm extremely grateful to the playing group for the respect they've shown me and my family and I wish them all the best for the rest of the year and I know they can turn it around.
I've loved having the privilege of shaping young family's lives.
It's really satisfying that as a club we've been able to help some players reach representative honours.
Thank you to the many people who've reached out to me to show their support. I'm overwhelmed with everyone in the playing group reaching out to thank me.
After a short break I look forward to new opportunities and challenges. I feel I still have plenty to give.
I know I've made mistakes but I feel like I've got a few things right too.
I don't want to single any players out, but it would be unfair to not thank Clint Gutherson for the years of torture he put his body through for me.
The Daily Telegraph, May 21 2024
I would note BA's stint in Parramatta did end in a similar manner to Brian Smith's record-setting tenure some 18 years earlier, in that neither of them made it past May.
Of course, another distinguished character of rugby league had his 50th birthday this week...
Andrew Johns.
Of course, there is something more important than a coach sacking this weekend...
INDIGENOUS ROUND.
The annual celebration of life and First Nations culture that is Indigenous Round, and we should remember that it's not just a celebration of Indigenous Australian culture, but the New Zealand Warriors have also used the round to celebrate Maori culture, which has given us great moments like Once Were Warriors, Boba & Jango Fett + the Clone Troopers from Star Wars, the Haka, and Taika Waititi.
Being Indigenous Round, I've made a habit of honouring the greats of the game that came from First Nations backgrounds, which started in 2019 with the late Immortal Arhur Beetson, Steve Renouf was the cover for 2020, Preston Campbell was the cover in 2021 as it marked 20 years since his Dally M win, Greg Inglis was the player in 2022, Johnathan Thurston was the player in 2023, and this year I've gone for the former Manly games record holder, the 1987 Clive Churchill Medalist and 1990 + 1994 Dally M Medal winner...
Cliffy Lyons.
It should tell you how durable Cliffy was that he was still able to play decent First Grade football at the age of 37 in 1999, and since Cliffy's last season some 25 years ago, only Cameron Smith and Paul Gallen have been able to play a game past 37, with Gal making it to 3 weeks past his 38th birthday.
So looking ahead to this year's slate for Indigenous Round, as the Newcastle Knights draw the short straw and get the bye after going on a rampage without Kalyn Ponga:
- The age-old rivals Canterbury and St George-Illawarra kick things off on Thursday night at Accor Stadium, which will mark the first time they've actually played at Accor Stadium since 2021, which is so long ago it was on the Queen's Birthday... which randomly changed name a few years back.
- The early Friday game sees the 2005 Grand Final rematch as the North Queensland Cowboys host the Wests Tigers, and it was in this round last year that the wooden spoon-winning Tigers team obliterated the Cowboys 66-18 at Leichhardt... of course, the Cowboys returned serve in the Round 18 rematch and won 74-0, the biggest shutout victory in the history of First Grade.
- Friday night sees Manly host Melbourne at Brookvale in the latest edition of the Battle of Brookvale, as the Storm deal with the hammer blow of losing Cameron Munster due to a torn adductor tendon that will also put him out of State of Origin, and the Storm come to Brookvale having not won there since 2020, a long losing streak of 2 games.
Another fun fact is that one of John Hopoate's 11 kids is going to debut for Manly - Lehi Hopoate.
- Saturday afternoon has the Canberra Raiders hosting the Sydney Roosters, who probably won't be setting up a fans livestream with their players after the game, after four players were accused of taking illicit substances by the folk of social media when they did a 90-minute livestream with fans on Twitch, the NRL drug testers went and tested all four players, and Easts put out a statement on their website threatening legal wrath.
If you ask me, they should just get those cyber security experts Anthony Seibold hired a few years ago.
- Another Top 4 clash, this time at Shark Park as ladder-leaders Cronulla host 3rd-placed Penrith, who are now 2 games off top spot in pursuit of the 4peat thanks to their cock-up against the Warriors in Brisbane last Sunday.
- Saturday night is Cripple Fight Night, featuring the Top 2 in the Sack Race as last-placed Souths host the 14th-placed Eels, and it seems funny to think that part of the reason the Eels dismissed Arthur was because they wanted Bennett... instead they got Trent Barrett.
- The old-fashioned South East Queensland Derby as the Brisbane Broncos host the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp, and this was the game that the Titans won in a major upset last year when the Broncos were sitting on top of the ladder, and it was only a few days after Justin Holbrook had been sacked as Titans coach, and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui had been rested after State of Origin...
That was also the game when Reece Walsh was suspended for 3 matches abusing a referee, which he claimed was directed towards Patrick Carrigan.
Yep, it was definitely towards Patty Carrigan.
- And the lucky last game in the Sunday Channel 9 slot sees the New Zealand Warriors host the high-flying Redcliffe Dolphins, which would be a sight to see considering Dolphins usually jump, and what a great result for the Warriors to knock off Penrith of all bloody teams after weeks of abject shit performances... that's the kind of win that turns an entire season around.
So it's time for the Round 12 Succinct Tips, and after my best weekend of the season last week, here we go...
7/8 last week, and somehow the only loser was Penrith.
I also had a look at my results compared to this time last year, and thanks to Magic Round last weekend, I am 2 correct tips better off this year (56 vs 54).
Round 11 score = 7/8
Running score after Round 11 = 56/88 (63.6%)
Round 12 Lock of the Week
Because when you're right 52% of the time, you're wrong 48% of the time!
Last week the Broncos trampled over Manly thanks to a late field goal, and ladies and gentlemen, it's not often I do this, but I have decided to do the unthinkable and guarantee a lock against a certain team...
THE PANTHERS MAY NOT WANT TO GO FOR A DIP IN THE WATERS OF THE SHIRE ON SATURDAY, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE VICTIMS OF A SHARK ATTACK!
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