The Prism - Round 21 2015

Hot topic

With the new rules mooted for next season, there is a belief that the reduced number of interchanges and a shot clock will introduce fatigue and automatically enhance attack. I am not so sure that this will eventuate over the long run. All that will happen is there will be a further reshaping of the athletes who play the game.

The prototype player has evolved over the years. Let's look at the various positions and what made a good player.

All rule changes do is challenge coaches and clubs to find ways of exploiting them. At a player level, it can impact on effectiveness; if you are the wrong shape or size you may find yourself out of the NRL.

There are a number of examples of misfit players going to the UK and playing exceptionally well as the comp is less focussed on the ruck and more on playing football. Hopefully, the new changes do not force more non-conformists out of the game.

Predictions

Last week I picked 5/8. Here are my picks for this week.

Roosters vs. Bulldogs @ Allianz Stadium
This should be a good match, but the Dogs are hot and cold. Roosters by 6

Tigers vs. Storm @ Leichhardt Oval
Even home ground advantage will be enough. Storm by 6

Warriors vs. Sharks @ Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors need to find a new general. Sharks by 1

Cowboys vs. Raiders @ 1300Smiles Stadium
This will be an entertaining shoot out. Cowboys by 6

Sea Eagles vs. Broncos @ Central Coast Stadium
The teams both travel for this one. Sea Eagles by 4

Dragons vs. Knights @ Jubilee Oval
Two previous ladder leaders now on a long, slippery slide. Dragons by 2

Rabbitohs vs. Panthers @ ANZ Stadium
This could be a massacre. Rabbitohs by 18

Titans vs. Eels @ Cbus Super Stadium
This will be a bludger of a game. Titans by 2

Form Guide

The form guide is based on a predictive model that gives more weight to recent performances. There is no adjustment for personal bias, injury or their position on the table. Byes are given a 50% weighting.

1. Broncos (-) : they are now a well-oiled machine who have turned their working week into a routine
2. Roosters (-) : they are coming into dangerous form with another premiership in their sights
3. Cowboys (-) : love Monday nights
4. Sharks (-) : have maintained their form, even at a hostile Belmore
5. Rabbitohs (-) : the top five in form teams all won to start distancing themselves from the pack
6. Sea Eagles (+3) : may probably keep up there good form to see Toovey off in the semis
7. Storm (+3) : are now starting to click after the loss of Slater
8. Raiders (+3) : this dark horse keeps up their hopes with another high scoring win
9. Bulldogs (-3) : how could they let their parochial Belmore crowd down with a limp performance?
10. Warriors (-3) : their season is in tatters after another home loss and the loss of Johnson
11. Eels (-3) : have they thrown away their recent good form
12. Knights (+1) : it is a poor indictment for the teams below that they have a more recent win
13. Panthers (-1) : have not won in a month and were outgunned at home
14. Titans (-) : hard to see how they can get back into the winners circle on a consistent basis
15. Tigers (-) : the spoon favourites have at least won in the last month
16. Dragons (-) : it is embarrassing that they once led the comp with 7 straight losses

Composite Team

Last week's composite team was made up of players who play the game very close to the wind (sometimes just beyond the rules). This week's team is devoid of backs. However, it is made up of tough players who were pivotal to their teams.

1. -
2. -
3. Luke Ricketson
4. -
5. -
6. Cameron Smith (debuted in halves in 2002)
7. Issac Luke (3 games in 2008)
8. Steve Roach
9. Jim Serdaris
10. Steve Bowden
11. Dane Sorenson
12. Arthur Beetson
13. Greg Pierce
14. John Lomax
15. Carl Webb
16. Peter Ryan
17. John Dowling

Flash Back

This week's Flash Back was a nuggetty fullback who played for Manly in the 1970's and early 80's. Graham "Wombat" Eadie also played for 3 years in the UK after finishing with the Sea Eagles.

Eadie debuted for the Sea Eagles in 1971. Although he was only 180 cm (5'10"), Eadie's 95kg and abundant pace made him difficult to stop when he chimed into the backline. He was an accurate line kicker and very safe under the high ball in an era when the "bomb" was coming into prominence.

In 1973 Eadie became Manly's predominant point scorer. That year, he kicked 14 goals in a match against Penrith. He was the competition's leading point scorer for the next three years, with a high of 242 points (14 tries and 100 goals) in 1975; a club record only broken by Matthew Ridge 20 years later.

Eadie quickly made his first representative appearance for NSW Firsts in 1972 where he scored a try and kicked 2 goals in their narrow loss. He then became a permanent fixture in the interstate series against Queensland from 1974. He ended up playing 13 games and scored 32 points. He also played 6 City Firsts games during this time with 49 points.

In 1973 Eadie made the Kangaroo tour and took over as test fullback after Graeme Langlands was injured. He later became a mainstay of the Australian team from 1975. He finished with the team after his second Kangaroo tour in 1978.

Many were a dominant team in the 1970's. During this time they won 4 premierships (1972-73, 1976 and 1978), with Eadie playing a key role in each of these matches. One of his finest matches was in the 1978 grand final replay where he single-handedly destroyed Cronulla with a try, setting up two others for Russel Gartner and kicking three goals and a field goal. In 1974, Eadie won the Rothmans Medal as Sydney rugby league's best-and-fairest player.

In 1980, Eadie played in the first ever State of Origin match. This was his last representative match. Eadie retired after losing the 1983 Grand Final against Parramatta. He finished with 1,971 points from 71 tries, 847 goals and 3 field goals.

Eadie came out of retirement to play for Halifax in England. He helped the team to the 1986 Club Championship and followed this up with a man of the match performance in Halifax's 19-18 victory over St. Helens in the 1987 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium in front of 94,273 people.

In 2006 Eadie was selected at fullback in Manly's "Dream Team". In 2008, Eadie was named at #25 in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908-2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.