Wendell Sailor. A name familiar with everyone in the Australian sporting world and just about everyone in Australia that follows mainstream media. He is a football player, athlete, larrikin, entertainer and even a goose to some. But to me he is one of the good things to come out of rugby league. Yes there have been problems in the past and he is by no means a clean skin. But Sailor is a still a professional at what he does and brings that X factor to our game. On Sunday Wendell Sailor plays his 200th first grade rugby league match when his now beloved Dragons host the Cronulla Sharks at WIN Jubilee/Kogarah Oval. And I for one couldn’t be happier for him.
Wendell Sailor broke into the Broncos top squad in 1993 and had really established himself by late 1994 when I started to develop a love for the game. For me, Wendell has been part of the game ever since I started watching and he soon became a fan favourite of mine at the Broncos. You look at this bloke and think he could (and has) easily pack into the back of a scrum yet there he is out on the wing outmuscling blokes and hanging with them metre for metre in a footrace. Wendell was big, powerful and fast which made for an ideal outside back and he still is all of those things today. Sure the pace has probably dropped a touch but whatever he’s lost on foot he’s gained between the ears.
We just have to go back two weeks to see Sailor at his best when he set up the try that sent the match against the Storm into golden point. Sailor used his size, speed and brains from deep inside his own half before sending Matt Cooper over for the points. And last week, I didn’t see much of the game, but all reports indicate that young Titans winger Esi Tonga got a really working over by the old fox. At age 34 Wendell may be on the way out but he will remain a fixture in this Dragons side for the whole season.
Of course it hasn’t all been smooth sailing (pun intended) over the last 17 years: code swaps, drugs, suspensions to name just a few controversies that seemed to follow him. The rugby experiment seemed to be a successful one as it didn’t take long for Sailor to establish himself in the Wallabies line up. Personally, Sailor and later converts Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri were solely responsible for me taking any interest in rugby union. That’s the beauty of a guy like Wendell...he gets people talking, watching and going to games.
Sailor is an entertainer on and off the field. He’s always good for a quote and rarely shy to express his opinions. Sure his kicking game in rugby union left a lot to be desired (even I as a non-fan could see that) but Sailor still had that match winning ability and show stealing ability to draw a crowd. And that crowd could be at Suncorp Stadium for either code or a TV studio or people listening by a radio just to hear this guy speak. Love him or hate him Wendell is an entertainer that gets people interested in whatever it is he is on about.
Never one to shy the spotlight, Wendell is now using his powers for good (not they were ever for evil). He has literally grown up, in the spotlight, a heck of a lot in the last four or five years. That’s certainly be evidenced since he was first suspended by the Waratahs in May 2006. We’ve seen a remorseful Wendell since then, followed by a determined Wendell to a) win back lost respect; b) make himself a role model and c) prove to everyone that he’s still as good as he says he is.
I think Wendell has ticked all three boxes since his return to top-class sport...back in the NRL with the Dragons since May 13, 2008. You can see the aura this guy has on the field and even around a club just by the way other people talk about him in the media. In fact I remember telling friends last year that following the suspension of Justin Hodges during the State of Origin series that Queensland could do worse than selecting Wendell Sailor for a Decider. He had played only a couple of NRL games for his new club but there is just something about the guy that lifts teams and wins big games.
To some Wendell may be an egotistical, rugby league boofhead but to me he is an entertainer, a show stopper and one of the great men of our game. Yes he’s had problems, but who hasn’t? Yes he’s had a second chance or two, but who hasn’t? I look forward to watching him go round in his 200th game on Sunday and of course in another big one next week against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. And I for one won’t be surprised should the big Dell be in a maroon jersey this year if injuries or form cut down the regular backs.
*
Whilst on the subject of milestones it was remiss of me last week not to offer my small congratulations to Hazem El Masri on breaking the world rugby league point scoring record. Hazem is one of the true role models of our game; a quality human being and from what I can tell a quality human being to. Well done to Hazem and hopefully he can keep kicking goals for a few more years yet.
Tips this week: Roosters, Bulldogs, Brisbane, Parramatta, Cowboys, Knights, Dragons, Manly
Last Week: 4/8 (Total: 10/16)
Winning Percentage: 63%
Geez, tough round this one to pick and I’m really torn on the Titans/Bulldogs game. In fact I had tipped the Titans but changed to the Bulldogs in this sentence! I think Prince will play but the Dogs are barking (re: point stripping) plus I like cheering on Brett Kimmorley!
If you have any thoughts or comments on Wendell, Hazem or anything at all please feel free to email me at andrew.keyte@gmail.com. Of course you can leave a comment at http://keytonrlhits.blogspot.com/ and you can read the rest of my articles at http://www.sportsaustralia.com/.
Have fun at the football this weekend,
Keyto
No comments:
Post a Comment