Loving The Game!

Hi again everyone and thanks for coming back or a welcome to those here for the first time reading my column at www.sportsaustralia.com or my BlogSpot site: http://keytonrlhits.blogspot.com. If you have anything at all to say please feel free to leave a comment or email me directly at andrew.keyte@gmail.com.

Before we start this week I just want to remind you of something I said last week, “I won’t touch the off-field dramas today. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other opportunities across the season...”
What did we get, two days maybe three after the first game before we had Jake Friend from the Roosters and Brett Seymour from Cronulla in the papers for the wrong reasons? I am sick of talking, reading and hearing about these sorts of things. There’s an article here by Dean Ritchie where Brett Kimmorley sums up the feelings of most of us who love or are involved in the game. There’s nothing more I can add to these off field dramas other than I hope we can go a week without any more.

I did something really fun with rugby league last weekend. I needed to write a human interest story for uni and when my original idea became a little unstuck I turned to something I love: suburban rugby league. I’m a regular at home Queensland Cup games for my team, Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, and last weekend I decided to spend my Sunday at their home ground Kougari Oval and my Saturday watching Easts Tigers play Norths at Langlands Park, Coorparoo. Below is the article I wrote for my assignment and I hope it shares the fun and beauty I find in watching footy out in the suburbs.

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“Get in there 8 you lazy shit!”…the second weekend in March and the suburban Brisbane grounds are abuzz. Away from the bright lights, six figure pay days, mainstream television coverage and ‘suits’ with expert opinions. These are the rugby league grounds where you can smell the grass on the way in and clean the car park mud from your shoes whilst the kids are immersed in their own private games of touch (or tackle) on the hill. You can reach out to wipe the sweat off the players, hear their instructions and breathe the passion of the team. This is the way rugby league was played; 3pm out in the suburbs.

Ken Booth has been an Easts Tigers player and supporter for as long as he can remember having represented the club from 1948 – 1957 and now involved with the past players association. “I do a little journalism myself,” Ken explains in reference to the Easts newsletter he regularly pens. Ken, 75, is a life member of the club but never played at Langlands Park, Coorparoo.

“The first game played here was in 1961...we used to play at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.” A humble Ken was more than happy to reminisce on his career highlight, a night in 1954 where he represented Brisbane against England in the first match played under floodlights. These types of stories flow through Langlands Park on this particular afternoon, which also happened to be Past Players Day.

An $8 ticket gives you access to all areas…grandstands, hills, open air bars and ‘Chook Pens’ at the northern, southern, eastern or western sides of the ground amongst a host of these wonderful characters all sharing their love of the game.

The role of supporter is tough; everyone needs to be multi-skilled to play the part of spectator, fan, captain, coach, halfback and referee! While some will just make quiet comments to those who’ll listen there are always others willing to share their sentiments with all and sundry.

“You just want to get your head on TV ref!” says one man in the back of the licensed grandstand…a reference to the rookie referee assigned the ABC match of the round. The $8 ticket allows movement away from that section past a group of kids racing through the mud under the grandstand. “They just came to see Ashton Sims and he’s off now,” their mother sighs.
Even people like Ken are running their own fine tooth comb over the action. “I have to pick the best forward and best back for Easts today and they’ve all been terrible!” A scrap of paper to show his notes…a number 11 under ‘forwards’ and the number 1 under ‘backs’. “That’s all I’ve got,” Ken exclaimed midway through the second half before pausing to acknowledge a good piece of work from the opposition. “See this halfback for them, the number 7 for Norths…put him in our side and it’s a different game.”

There are similar scenes at Kougari Oval, home to Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, where another good crowd has turned out to watch footy in the suburbs. It’s not a home player that gets the crowd talking but rather a visiting man mountain. “We just call him Pele” one of the travelling fans says while another remarks to her friend, “Wow, look how big and strong and fast he is!” Pele certainly stands out with his dark skin punctuated by a mop of frizzy hair streaked with a tinge of orange.

The postcard feature at Kougari Oval is an area nestled on the eastern hill known as the ‘Chook Pen’. People gather here to drink beer, hurl abuse to those sporting an opposition jersey and share special tips with anyone blowing a whistle. Even their own are not always immune as the unfortunate ‘8’ from the top of this story was decked in the red, white and green of the home side.

For people like Ken Booth the Easts Tigers will always remain ‘the best club in Brisbane’ despite the scoreboard. With ten more afternoons this season there’s always a second chance right? Another day to sit wherever you want, smell the grass on the way in, clean the mud off your shoes, breathe the game and offer advice from the safety of a grandstand or the sanctity of a ‘Chook Pen’.

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It was a lot of fun writing that article the other day and mingling with the numerous characters you find at these games. By all means I encourage people to head out and support their NRL team, but don’t discount the local comps. I only have experience with the Queensland Cup but I know the standard is always relatively high and there is always a sprinkling of handy players running around.

Just last weekend Ashton Sims, Rod Jensen, Chris Walker, Grant Rovelli and Kaine Manihera were all on display at various grounds. So wherever you are, if you’re looking for something to do this weekend look up your local team and see if you can get down to their games. It’s a lot of fun.

My tips this week: Souths, Brisbane, Dragons, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Canberra, Manly, Cronulla
Last week: 6/8
Winning Percentage: 75%

If you want a smokey; get on the Panthers. I don’t know why but I have a massive feeling about them this week. I can’t explain it, I didn’t see them or the Bulldogs last week but I’m sure in recent seasons these sides have met in Round 2 with the Panthers claiming unexpected wins. Having said that, I can’t pick them with any confidence! Maybe take Penrith with a bit of a start.
Catch ya later,
Keyto