State of the Nation
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:23 am
Well it's been a whirlwind couple of months overseas, with the highlights being Superbowl XLVIII, Mt Fuji (didn't get to climb it due to crap weather though) and, slightly embarassingly, Disneyland, while the lowlights were being stuck in Chicago airport for a day and a half and every single interaction I had with french-speaking people in Quebec city.
But being back in the country and, alas, back at work, it's time to take stock of what's happened in the off-season (in addition, that is, to the insane number of emails now clogging my work inbox
):
nRL finally manages to fill a stadium. Granted it took literally every single team in the competition playing on the same field to do it, but credit where it's due, they got it done.
nRL still haven't resolved their drug crisis, while it looks likely that the Dons players are going to get off scott free.
Giants have a new major sponsor, and a stadium sponsor. Ca-ching
Suns' managed Metricon Stadium hosted a successful BDO, no-doubt raking cash for the fledgling club.
AFL nominates the very well connected former News Ltd head Kim Williams to the Commission. Can we say $1.6 billion?
AFL Nab challenge smashes A-leage in the fox ratings. nRL 9's comp smashes A-league in the ratings. BBL smashes A-league in the ratings. Women's soccer smashes A-leage in the ratings.
nRL thugs getting arrested left right and centre. One AFL player seen having coffee with a man that rides a motorcycle.
nRL star poached by Union (again).
Poort flogs whinge about the Crows being the team for all South Australians. The chip on their shoulder continues to be a tourist destination on the outskirts of Alice Springs.
Sandy Roberts is back!!
And here are some predictions for the year ahead:
Cronulla to get a whack from ASADA, Dons to get off
Suns to have a higher regular season average attendance than the Titans, off the back of their first finals appearance.
Of the AFL and the nRL, the AFL will have the highest rated game on STV (the highest rated game overall will be a Socerroos match).
Socceroos to crash and burn at the WC.
Roy Masters and Craig Foster to continue their bitter, jealous rants against Australia's Game.
But being back in the country and, alas, back at work, it's time to take stock of what's happened in the off-season (in addition, that is, to the insane number of emails now clogging my work inbox

nRL finally manages to fill a stadium. Granted it took literally every single team in the competition playing on the same field to do it, but credit where it's due, they got it done.
nRL still haven't resolved their drug crisis, while it looks likely that the Dons players are going to get off scott free.
Giants have a new major sponsor, and a stadium sponsor. Ca-ching
Suns' managed Metricon Stadium hosted a successful BDO, no-doubt raking cash for the fledgling club.
AFL nominates the very well connected former News Ltd head Kim Williams to the Commission. Can we say $1.6 billion?
AFL Nab challenge smashes A-leage in the fox ratings. nRL 9's comp smashes A-league in the ratings. BBL smashes A-league in the ratings. Women's soccer smashes A-leage in the ratings.
nRL thugs getting arrested left right and centre. One AFL player seen having coffee with a man that rides a motorcycle.
nRL star poached by Union (again).
Poort flogs whinge about the Crows being the team for all South Australians. The chip on their shoulder continues to be a tourist destination on the outskirts of Alice Springs.
Sandy Roberts is back!!
And here are some predictions for the year ahead:
Cronulla to get a whack from ASADA, Dons to get off

Suns to have a higher regular season average attendance than the Titans, off the back of their first finals appearance.
Of the AFL and the nRL, the AFL will have the highest rated game on STV (the highest rated game overall will be a Socerroos match).
Socceroos to crash and burn at the WC.
Roy Masters and Craig Foster to continue their bitter, jealous rants against Australia's Game.