NRL News, Gambling on the Front Foot
<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
Seems like this week in NRL News it is all about rolling the dice on the craps table of career and business. Braith Anasta at the Chooks and Jason Nightingale at the Dragons are doing it albeit with different approaches, and Souths are also rubbing the green felt, putting dice in palm, shaking away and letting the good times roll. They’re all hoping for double six and praying they don’t end up with snake eyes.
It all started off with the Chookies, the most loyal of NRL teams. After staving off plenty of innuendo and rumour during the 2010 finals series concerning their captain Braith Anasta, it seems the Roosters chose to toss the die and hope lady luck would present them with a good roll that let the rumours dissipate quickly and quietly, ready to be dealt with at a more opportune time. Six months later and it hasn’t happened that way.
Lady Luck: Deserted Roosters bosses, now has weather gig.
So, making an educated guess about how these things work (read: stab in the dark), some poor form or an injury would have seen the “Sell Anasta” story emerge again with a little more public understanding of the clubs position. As it sits, the story broke in the press. Looking up from the craps table is a club that lost a gamble.
But it seems Anasta himself scooped the dice off the table and shot them back out over the smooth green felt in what seems a calculated low risk manoeuvre. With the public on his side and his form exceptional, getting the news out of his treatment will see him get the first offers from clubs that come into any extra cash. An injury here, a sacking, a sex scandal or just moving players on, all clubs now know the Anasta is on the market.
Watson: Not as much Front foot as Anasta
But don’t think your Old Mate didn’t read the Claytons retraction from Roosters boss Nick Politis either. It just seemed a bit odd. After the story broke, it ‘emerged’ that there had been a misunderstanding between Anasta and Brian Smith over his retention past 2011. Apaarently Braith is still wanted and the Chooks are looking at extending his contract sometime after April after they deal with the SKD’s and other up and coming stars. You would think that Anasta, captain and all that, would be the first to be signed up, wouldn’t you? To me it smells like someone trying to douse the flames of angry fans without actually saying anything concrete about real intentions. And Anasta senses this which is why he is showing as much front foot as Shane Watson. He has taken the sweet talk with a massive grain of salt my Steeden loving friends, because he knows: if a club wants you, they don’t let you hit the market.
It isn’t a phenomenon unique to the Chookies by the way. Down the coast, where all the 2010 gongs went to the ‘Gong, grand final hero and NZ international Jason Nightingale has also yet to be resigned by St George Illawarra. Also off contract at the end of 2011, Nightingale produced the old ‘let my manager sort it out’ chestnut, saying that he hoped to stay with the Dragons. It is a bit more of a defensive stroke than Anasta’s, however once again, it is drumming up awareness for the player in case they really do have to leave.
With the inevitable salary cap squeeze coming to the Dragons (Gasnier isn’t on 50k this year), some players will have to go. Jeremy Smith has gone already but with the contract boosting ‘Grand Final Winner’ title now emblazoned on all 17 players resumes, then the writing is on the wall. Player managers would already know this and it is possible that the first machinations of a move to the Warriors for Nightingale are being told.
Gasnier: Famously like Helena (or SBW), won’t get out of bed for 50k a season (anymore).
In keeping with the gambling theme in this weeks NRL News, how can your Old mate not mention Rusty’s Rabbits and their partnership with Star City in a 5 year multi million dollar deal? The pairing has received its fair share of negative press and along with LuxBet signing on as corporate partners for 2011, the Rabbits are seeing the masses turn on them slightly. Old mate however, doesn’t give a rat’s arse and thinks the more sponsorship dollars that come in to shore up the game, the better.
Harvey Norman: 3 years interest free deals are just as irresponsible as gambling companies sponsoring footy teams.
Gambling companies are no less legitimate than Harvey Norman and should not be seen as such. People think gambling promotes bad habits to children but have you seen these 3 year interest free deals? They’re just as f*ckin bad. Anyway sports betting is a global trend and it will be very hard to push against it.
So that’s it for your NRL News post Australia Day wrap up. Stay tuned for more news and views over the coming weeks and get ready for Round One in March where Old mate will spring a few surprises on you…
-
Seems like this week in NRL News it is all about rolling the dice on the craps table of... Read Full Story » -
Friends of Jodi Gordon said she is desperate to marry. The Australian actress who is well... Read Full Story »
