I have a new nickname for Melbourne Storm NRL coach Craig Bellamy.
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The hypnotist.
Bellamy had the Canberra Raiders in "doze-o-land" less than a quarter of the preliminary final last Friday.
After skipper Cameron Smith goaled from a penalty to make it 18-0 the captain was seen licking his lips.
He appeared to be silently anticipating a handsome victory.
Handsome it was.
Whoever would have predicted a 30-10 mauling?
The Storm totally mesmerised a team that a week ago played like premiers.
Canberra never woke up.
Stars of a week ago, Croker, Williams and Papali May as well have stayed home.
The Storm now established the hottest premiership favourited for many seasons.
"The hypnotist" preparing to cast another spell.
Refereeing/umpiring are thankless occupations.
You almost need to be masochistic or an egomaniac to pursue such a sporting vocation.
So I will spare the rod.
But in the world of fair dinkum have you ever seen worst adjudicating this season in the four football codes?
Time for a straw pole.
What of our football codes has the most incompetent whistle blower?
If you voted Rugby Union you'd be on the money.
The refereeing of the recent Wallabies-All Blacks Bledisloe Cup clash at good old wet and windy Wellington sunk to a new level of strange rulings.
The Wallabies deserved better than to share the spoils.
Rugby decisions have baffled me for yoinks.
There are times when I feel even the players are puzzled.
Rules related to scrums and mauls are subjects of witchcraft.
An umpire/referee who allows a game to be decided on his interpretation of the rules is better placed working the baseline of a Novak Djokovic tennis match.
He could get some sense knocked into him.
The AFL is awash with boogie umpiring.
The NRL is as second rate as you can get.
Soccer?
Touch and go. But probably the least harmful.
The solution?
More expert tuition.
Given the choice of being an umpire/referee and working in a Hunter Valley coal mine I'll go for the one with the black face.
Always have preferred black to red.
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