Greg Inglis, mighty unlucky or just one too many?

Over the years we have all seen the absolute marvel of Greg Inglis. His speed, strength, agility and overall rugby league talent is a view to behold for every fan. However, since his positional switch from centre to fullback, and the greater responsibility he has been given to roam the field, the media and fans alike have started to question his particular running style.

His running style has begun to be questioned due to the fact that he has been involved in a high number of 'spear tackles' whereby his legs are lifted off the ground which results in his neck and legs being placed in a dangerous position. Moreover, due to the high number of spear tackles he has been involved in, the media and fans have started to closely monitor his running style and have emphasised any possibility in which he places himself in the dangerous position by leaning forward into tackles.

Greg Inglis knows he is a target on the field, but having been the victim of four ugly spear tackles this season, questions need to be asked on the coincidence of them all. The South Sydney star however has admitted to being stunned by suggestions he needs to change his running style and believes that neither of the tackles have been premeditated.

Sydney Roosters great Brad Fittler said he didn't feel Inglis was in the wrong, but believed a change would be in Inglis' best interests.

"The key is Greg's the constant factor in a lot of the tackles," Fittler said.

"I just don't want to see him get hurt. I don't want to see anyone get hurt like that. He's not doing anything wrong, but it's up to Greg."

Greg concluded by responding that "if I've got to change my running style ... I don't know, I'm a bit stunned by that."

Wade Graham, what were you thinking?

Wade Graham was set to be the first Cronulla Shark player to be interviewed by ASADA into their investigation of illegal drug use within sport...what a disaster that turned out to be. In a week where the National Rugby League did not need further embarrassment and scrutiny across the media and wider community Wade Graham decides to wear a reversed baseball-cap, t-shirt, cargo pants and thongs to a hearing which has had widespread media coverage across the nation. This was a great opportunity for the Sharks and the NRL Competition to portray to the wider community its professionalism and its effort into dismissing any links the sport might have with any illegal drug use. Instead however, the NRL and the Cronulla Sharks have further damaged the clubs reputation and the competitions.

The Sharks aren't a club like the South Sydney Rabbitohs or the Brisbane Broncos whom have a substantial membership base to stream revenue through, they are a club whom struggle to stay afloat and retain major sponsors. Consequently, this negativity towards the club through rumours of drug use, player conduct and recently poor performances will know doubt cause a major strain amongst the club and its sponsors.

This is a great opportunity for the National Rugby League, and Dave Smith specifically as the Chief Executive Officer to stamp his authority and set a precedent with Graham. Wade definitely deserves to be fined a substantial amount for bringing the game into disrepute and should be stood down from playing for a set period of time. This will ensure that player think about their conduct in future instead of taking their careers and lifestyles for granted.

ASADA investigation taking its toll on the Cronulla Sharks

As soon as NRL chief executive Dave Smith announced that 31 players were being targeted by a new ASADA (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority) investigation into drugs in sport, information that the Cronulla Sharks would be a focus of this process surfaced.

After putting together one of the strongest teams the Sharks ever over the offseason, there were many expectations of greater success for the sharks this season. We are now coming up to round 7 and the Sharks have only won 2 of their 6 matches, with many pointing at the ongoing ASADA investigation as a major reason for this poor performance.

The ASADA investigation requires players to participate in a grueling and lengthy interview process, with a constant communication stream between players, their lawyers and their managers to ensure that they are protected. As reflected by many high profile figures in the NRL such as commentators, previous NRL greats and coaches, the switch in focus from sport to the investigation, both physically and mentally, makes in impossible for the Sharks players to be in the best form. As Brad Fittler put it, “They can’t have any intensity at all because what is on their mind all the time is what the lawyers have just been speaking about… they are going home with problems on their mind”.

A real controversy on this issue awakened when Sharks Coach Tim Flanagan finally admitted that the ongoing ASADA investigation was taking its toll on the teams preparation and game. He admitted after a couple of consecutive losses that he was trying to play down the investigation in order for the team and followers to concentrate on the game however now notes that preparation is being stunted “because there is too much stuff going on off the field”.

All participants and followers of the game are hoping that the investigation concludes on the earlier end of the four to six weeks initially exclaimed as the expected length of the investigation, especially considering the secrecy and lack of information to players, teams and fans from ASADA on their progress and findings. Worried sports fans are anticipating the process to drag out for extended periods and are expecting other teams to be more conclusively dragged into the investigation, thus damaging their season as well. The weight that is on the Sharks players and staff will hopefully be lifted as the focus on them wraps up, helping them to regain the best chance of turning around their season before its too late.

A lot weighing on the sharks minds...

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs In Turmoil

Within the period of six months the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have gone from winning the minor premiership and one win away from being grand final winners to currently bottom of the table and looking like a club in turmoil.

The one win from first six attempts is not the major concern; the major concern at the moment with the Bulldogs is the innuendo behind the scenes. In saying this the rumours are circulating around the rugby league world that Ben Barba wants an immediate mid-season release to join the Brisbane Broncos. The underlying issues with Barba stem prior the season even kicked off; he was originally placed into a rehabilitation clinic to deal with his own admission of having an alcohol and gambling problem and was consequently stood down for the first four rounds of the competition. Moreover, further rumours circulating state that Barba's behaviour has led to angst among his team mates and damaged the strong team bond they once had. Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg has come out as recently as yesterday to dismiss the rumours that the club is in turmoil through his personal twitter account (https://twitter.com/Todd_Greenberg). However, just as all league fans are aware of, for rumours to be circulating there must be some substance behind them.